Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the diversity of the informal economy across five countries in South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Contents include statistical overviews of employment generally, and informal employment specifically in South Asia, an examination of the dynamics of informal labour markets, and how individuals and households respond to these dynamics. The paper also looks at what causes or drives informal employment in South Asia. The conclusion contains a three-pillar framework for considering policy and other responses to informality with promising examples from South Asia.

Citation

Chen, Martha, and Donna Doane. "Informality in South Asia: A Review." WIEGO Working Paper No. 4, September 2008.