Informal Sector in India: Migration and Poverty Implications

For assessing the role of urbanization in reducing poverty this paper based on secondary datatries to examine the nature of relationship among urbanisation, migration and informal sector employment. Findings suggest that the informal sector also tends to attract migrants as the probability to get work opportunities in this sector could be high. Further, rural and urban poverty are inter-connected as rural to urban migration and informal sector employment and other state-specific characteristics are associated, though migration and urbanisation with its spill-over effects reduce both rural and urban poverty. Also,based onthe survey data for unincorporated enterprises, the paper examinesif the unorganized or informal manufacturing, trade and services have the potentiality to grow and contribute to the realization of the inclusive growth objective. The inter-sectoral linkages do not necessarily mean that productivity and wages improve in the informal sector if the units manage to receive business contract from the formal sector enterprises. In fact, a large body of the informal sector is seen to be unconnected to the formal sector and this independent segment is on the rise over time. Finally the paper argues for the introduction of an informal sector policy which may help reduce the welfare losses to labour employed at the lower rungs.

Structural Transformation in Egypt, 1965–2015

Between 1965 and 2015, the structure of the Egyptian economy changed slowly. The share of agriculture in GDP halved, while industry increased correspondingly, but most of it represented increased value-added in the petroleum sector. The contribution of services remained almost constant. The balance of payments remained in deficit because exchange rate and import protection policies created an anti-export bias. Budget deficits persisted for structural reasons—expenditures increased in line with domestic inflation, while revenues depended upon exogenous sources (e.g. revenues from Suez Canal traffic, petroleum exports, foreign aid) and increased more slowly. The ratio of exports of goods and services to GDP was 17 per cent in 1965 and 14 in 2015; that of imports to GDP 21 and 23 per cent; of taxes to GDP 13 and 14 per cent. An important structural change in the labour market was a substantial increase in informal sector employment. The slowness of the structural transformations is largely attributable to an implicit political-economy compact whereby regimes provided the population large subsidies on goods and services and low taxation in return for political acceptance.

KARAKTERISTIK EKONOMI RUMAH TANGGA DAN RELEVANSINYA DENGAN KONSEP EKONOMI SYARIAH

The purpose of this study is to determine the economic role of housewives as workers in the informal sector and to recognize the economic characteristics of households related to the role of housewives as workers in the informal sector. This study uses a qualitative descriptive research methodology approach with a case study. The results of the study prove that: 1) The economic role of housewives as workers in the informal sector is to meet family needs; flexible informal sector employment allows housewives to prioritize the work of their domestic sector; positive values that support the economic role of housewives according to the concept of Islamic economy is the level of consumption satisfaction not on desires, but on the needs and considerations of benefit. 2) Economic characteristics of family households related to the economic role of housewives as workers in the informal sector are as follows; suppressing primary needs for allocation in prioritized secondary needs, such as education and transportation, saving is saved not for investment purposes but for the reserve of extra expenses, current expenditure is not always equal to current income, but is also based on expectations of future income.

Examining car guarding as a livelihood in the informal sector

Car guarding is a distinctly South African informal sector employment activity. A car guard offers to guard vehicles in a public or private parking area for a donation. Car guarding enables an unemployed person to earn some income. The purpose of this study is to examine car guarding as a livelihood in the informal sector. This study interviews 30 car guards at six different locations in Durban, South Africa. It examines their demographic characteristics, income, education and skills, risks and challenges faced, and the opinion of car guards regarding their livelihood. The average car guard worked six days per week and an average of nine hours per day. The average income per hour ranged from ZAR4.64 to ZAR30. Average daily incomes ranged from ZAR50 to ZAR350. Car guarding is a high risk activity that includes health risks, and risks of verbal abuse and violence.