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Economic Freedom and the Informal Economy

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  • Osama Sweidan

    (Department of Economics and Finance, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the effect of economic freedom on the informal economies in a sample of 112 countries over the period 2000–2007. We employ two methodologies: fixed effect and the GMM models. We find a statistically significant negative relationship between economic freedom and the informal economy. This conclusion indicates that the nature of the economic system plays an important role in seizing the informal economy. Further, our results demonstrate that the formal and informal economies are substitutes. The policy implication is that economies with high share of informal economy should work with fewer economic restrictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Osama Sweidan, 2017. "Economic Freedom and the Informal Economy," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(4), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:gejxxx:v:17:y:2017:i:04:n:gej-2017-0002
    DOI: 10.1142/GEJ-2017-0002
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    Cited by:

    1. Aziz N. Berdiev & James W. Saunoris & Friedrich Schneider, 2018. "Give Me Liberty, or I Will Produce Underground: Effects of Economic Freedom on the Shadow Economy," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 85(2), pages 537-562, October.
    2. Floridi, Andrea & Demena, Binyam Afewerk & Wagner, Natascha, 2020. "Shedding light on the shadows of informality: A meta-analysis of formalization interventions targeted at informal firms," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    informal economy; economic freedom; panel analysis; fixed effect model; GMM model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy

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