Microfoundations of Informal Economy Tolerance: The Role of Personality Traits and Competitiveness Dimensions

Research on the informal economy has traditionally emphasized its measurement and macroeconomic effects, focusing on structural and institutional determinants. Individual psychological factors that may help explain social tolerance toward informal practices have received far less attention. This exploratory study addresses this gap by examining how Big Five personality traits and dimensions of competitiveness are associated with two components of tolerance: the acceptance of informal behaviors, and justificatory beliefs. To this end, an ad hoc questionnaire was developed, and a cross-sectional design was implemented using a stratified sample of 339 students enrolled in Business Administration programs at a Spanish university. Multivariable models estimated these associations while adjusting for gender. The results indicate that conscientiousness and extraversion are negatively associated with both acceptance and justificatory beliefs, whereas competitive affectivity exhibits a positive and consistent association with both dimensions. Within the study sample, tolerance scores were higher among male respondents. These findings raise a hypothesis for future research: awareness campaigns may achieve greater precision when they account for psychological heterogeneity. This implication should be tested in broader and more diverse populations. Drawing on this exploratory evidence, we propose a preliminary analytical model that articulates the relationships between dispositional traits and competitiveness dimensions in relation to the two components of tolerance, providing a basis for future research. From a theoretical perspective, the proposed model offers a structured basis for longitudinal testing and future experimental designs aimed at deepening the understanding of the microfoundational mechanisms underlying the informal economy.