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What policies to combat labour informality? Evidence from Mexico

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  • Sean M. Dougherty
  • Octavio R. Escobar

Abstract

Informality often concerns policymakers due to its negative implications on productivity and poverty. In recent years, the extent of informal employment has diverged across Mexican states. Varying informal employment dynamics within a comparable institutional environment offers scope to identify policies that can reduce informality. This paper uses cross-state panel and individual data to examine the determinants of informal employment, exploiting the diverging outcomes across states, industries and time. The results suggest that there is no ‘silver bullet’ to combat informality, yet a package of policies promoting labour skills, encouraging foreign investment, enhancing tax enforcement and deterring corruption can reduce informal employment. Intriguingly, reducing the cost to start a business is found to have a non-linear effect on informal employment, conditional on the prevalence of microenterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean M. Dougherty & Octavio R. Escobar, 2019. "What policies to combat labour informality? Evidence from Mexico," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(38), pages 4176-4190, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:51:y:2019:i:38:p:4176-4190
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1591597
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    Cited by:

    1. Lippe, Rattiya Suddeephong & Ojeda Luna, Tatiana & Katajamäki, Waltteri & Schweinle, Jörg, 2023. "Labour informality in forestry: A longitudinal (2009–2020) cross-country analysis of determinants in 70 developing countries," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Facundo Quiroga‐Martínez & Esteban Fernández‐Vázquez, 2021. "Education as a key to reduce spatial inequalities and informality in Argentinean regional labour markets," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(1), pages 177-189, February.
    3. Ioana Alexandra Horodnic & Colin C. Williams & Rodica Ianole-Cãlin & Adrian V. Horodnic, 2023. "Exploring the illegal practice of under-reporting wages in the construction industry: some lessons from Romania," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(26), pages 2978-2992, June.
    4. Brenes, Esteban R. & Ciravegna, Luciano & Acuña, Joseph, 2020. "Differentiation strategies in agribusiness – A configurational approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 522-539.
    5. Gazilas, Emmanouil Taxiarchis, 2024. "An empirical analysis on the impact of labour market regulations on uninsured employment in Greece," MPRA Paper 121311, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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