This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Taxes, Inequality and the Size of the Informal Sector

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Dessy, Sylvain
Pallage, Stéphane

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

Abstract

In this note we develop a simple heterogeneous-agent model with incomplete markets to explain the prevalence of a large, low-productivity, informal sector in developing countries. In our models, taxes levied on formal sector agents are used to finance the provision of a productive public infrastructure, which creates a productivity premium from formalization. Our model offers endogenous differentiation of rich and poor countries. Complete formalization is an equilibrium only in countries with the appropriate initial conditions. We discuss existence of this equilibrium and highlight the ambiguous effect of taxes.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.ecn.ulaval.ca/w3/recherche/cahiers/2001/0112.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function:
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Paper provided by Université Laval - Département d'économique in its series Cahiers de recherche with number 0112.

Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Length:
Date of creation: 2001
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:lvl:laeccr:0112

Contact details of provider:
Postal: Pavillon J.A. De S�ve, Qu�bec, Qu�bec, G1K 7P4
Phone: (418) 656-5122
Fax: (418) 656-2707
Email:
Web page: http://www.ecn.ulaval.ca
More information through EDIRC

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Johanne Perron).

Related research
Keywords: Informal sector; Technology adoption; Infrastructure; Inequality; Taxation; Development;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
O14 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
O17 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
  1. Sylvain Dessy & Stephane Pallage, 2002. "Fertility, Education, and Market Failures," Cahiers de recherche CREFE / CREFE Working Papers 148, CREFE, Université du Québec à Montréal. [Downloadable!]
  2. Toke Aidt & Jayasri Dutta & Vania Sena, 2006. "Governance Regimes, Corruption and Growth: Theory and Evidence," Discussion Papers 15_2006, D.E.S. (Department of Economic Studies), University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Lewis S. Davis, 2004. "Explaining the Evidence on Inequality and Growth: Informality and Redistribution," DEGIT Conference Papers c009_032, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade. [Downloadable!]
  4. repec:bep:maccon:v:7:y:2007:i:1:p:1498-1498 is not listed on IDEAS
  5. Hatipoglu, Ozan & Ozbek , Gulenay, 2008. "On the Political Economy of the Informal Sector and Income Redistribution," MPRA Paper 7857, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  6. Pratap, Sangeeta & Quintin, Erwan, 2006. "The Informal Sector in Developing Countries: Output, Assets and Employment," Working Papers RP2006/130, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER). [Downloadable!]
  7. Joshua Aizenman & Yothin Jinjarak, 2006. "Globalization and Developing Countries - A Shrinking Tax Base?," NBER Working Papers 11933, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  8. Era Dabla-Norris & Andrew Feltenstein, 2005. "The underground economy and its macroeconomic consequences," Journal of Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 153-174, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Loayza, Norman V. & Rigolini, Jamele, 2006. "Informality trends and cycles," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4078, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
  10. Agenor, Pierre-Richard, 2003. "The mini-integrated macroeconomic model for poverty analysis : a framework for analyzing the unemployment and poverty effects of fiscal and labor market reforms," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3067, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? A few items listed on IDEAS are over 2000 years old!

This page was last updated on 2009-11-19.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.