{"product_id":"hidden-potential-maurizio-bussolo-9781464818349","title":"Hidden Potential","description":"\u003cp\u003e Informality remains widespread in South Asia despite decades of economic growth. The\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e low earnings and high vulnerability in the informal sector make this a major development\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e issue for the region. Yet, there is no consensus on its causes and consequences, with the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e debate polarized between a view that informality is a problem of regulatory evasion and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e should be eradicated, and another that equates informality with economic exclusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Recent advances in analyzing informality as the outcome of firm dynamics in distorted\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e economic environments can help reconcile them. Building on these advances, the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e approach adopted in this volume clarifies that there are different types of informality, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e with different drivers and consequences.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The report has four main messages that underscore the need for a multipronged strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e First, informality in South Asia is dominated by firms that happen to be outside the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e purview of regulations because they are small, as opposed to those that remain small\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e to escape regulations. Second, reforms of business regulations tend to have small direct\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e effects on the informal sector, although they could have sizable indirect impacts on it if\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e they succeed in removing major inefficiencies in the broader economy. Third, e-commerce\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e platforms offer new opportunities to informal firms and workers, but many of them lack\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e complementary skills or credit to benefit from such technologies. Fourth, a combination\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e of contributory and non-contributory programs recognizing the heterogenous saving capacities of informal workers may be\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e necessary to achieve more universal coverage of social insurance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Maurizio Bussolo\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1464818347\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781464818349\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e World Bank Publications\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/24\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 150\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.73d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maurizio Bussolo","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44119508353279,"sku":"9781464818349","price":43.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e6cf410a-11f0-4f04-99d3-f2199d96e69b.jpg?v=1687409715","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/hidden-potential-maurizio-bussolo-9781464818349","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}