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Evaluating the relationship between sustainable development, localisation and the informal economy: evidence from Romania

Author

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  • Ioana Alexandra HORODNIC

    (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania)

  • Colin C. WILLIAMS

    (University of Sheffield, United Kingdom)

  • Iuliana M. CHIÈšAC

    (Westminster Business School, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to deepen understanding of the relationship between sustainable development, localisation and the purchase of goods and services from the informal economy. This has not before been investigated. To do so, it reports a survey of 1,209 respondents conducted during October-December 2021 in Romania, a country with one of the largest informal economies in the European Union. The findings reveal a link between consumers' motives to purchase informal goods and services and the pursuit of sustainable development through localisation. The analysis shows that there is no purely sustainability-driven consumer in the informal economy, but this rationale is prevalent as one of several motives for a large proportion of consumers purchasing goods and services from the informal economy, who do so explicitly for the purposes of environmental protection and localisation. The implications for theorising and tackling the informal economy are then discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioana Alexandra HORODNIC & Colin C. WILLIAMS & Iuliana M. CHIÈšAC, 2022. "Evaluating the relationship between sustainable development, localisation and the informal economy: evidence from Romania," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 13, pages 54-76, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:jes:journl:y:2022:v:13:p:54-76
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.47743/ejes-2022-0203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Colin C Williams & Slavko Bezeredi, 2017. "Explaining Consumers’ Motives for Purchasing from the Informal Economy: Some Lessons from a Study of Bulgaria, Croatia and FYR of of Macedonia," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 4, pages 515-531, December.
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    7. Colin C WILLIAMS & Slavko BEZEREDI, 2018. "Explaining informal entrepreneurship in South-East Europe: a tax morale approach," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 9, pages 47-68, December.
    8. Canh P. Nguyen & Christophe Schinckus & Dinh Su Thanh, 2020. "Economic Fluctuations And The Shadow Economy: A Global Study," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(03), pages 1-24, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Dell Anno & Adriana AnaMaria Davidescu & Eduard Mihai Manta, 2024. "The Role of the Informal Economy in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(Special 1), pages 1108-1108, November.
    2. Nicolae Cristina-Andreea, 2024. "Understanding sustainable purchasing behavior in Romania: Drivers, barriers, and environmental participation," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 19(2), pages 362-381.
    3. Windi Dwi Nanda & Ida Widianingsih & Ahmad Zaini Miftah, 2023. "The Linkage of Digital Transformation and Tourism Development Policies in Indonesia from 1879–2022: Trends and Implications for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.

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