Informality: Exit and Exclusion

This volume analyzes the causes for informality in Latin America--the flawed relationship between citizens and their state shown in things like unprotected workers and underpayment of taxes--as well as the implications of its growth. Specifically, Perry et al. (of the Latin American and Caribbean Region of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank) consider informality in labor that is driven by exclusion from state benefits or the routes of economy, and that driven by voluntary "exit" decisions resulting from private cost-benefit calculations that lead workers to opt out of formal institutions. They discuss what informality is and how to measure it, earnings and welfare assessments and what they reveal about workers and their decision making process, what determines the size of the sector, microform dynamics, private firms, social protection and antipoverty policies, and the role of social norms. The report builds on regional studies from the past decade, and draws from regional household surveys and research in partner countries. It is aimed at professionals and academics studying labor market, social protection, tax, microenterprise development, and urban public policies, and those working in government, international organizations, research institutions, and universities. The book lacks an index. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)