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Informal-formal wage gaps in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Nancy Daza

    (National Planning Department (DNP), Colombia)

  • Luis Fernando Gamboa

    (Department of Economics, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia)

Abstract

This document provides recent evidence about the persistency of wage gaps between formal and informal workers in Colombia. The methodology is based on a non-parametric procedure proposed by Nopo (2008a) that allows us to compare labor incomes using matching on variables over a Nationwide Household Survey during 2008-2012. It is found that formal workers earn between 30 to 60 percent more, on average, than informal workers according to the definition of formality adopted and small variations occurs along this period. This is new evidence about the true differences in labor compensation from workers with distinct formality levels in Colombia. These results are important inputs for labor policy in a country with high income inequality levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy Daza & Luis Fernando Gamboa, 2013. "Informal-formal wage gaps in Colombia," Working Papers 301, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2013-301
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    File URL: http://www.ecineq.org/milano/WP/ECINEQ2013-301.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Duman, Anil & Duman, Alper, 2021. "The More the Gloomier: development of informal employment and its effect on wages in Turkey," GLO Discussion Paper Series 870, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Subhasankar Chattopadhyay & Rima Mondal, 2017. "Characterisation of Economic Growth in Developing Economies with Informal Sector," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(1), pages 86-101, March.
    3. Duman, Anil, 2024. "The Diversity of Informal Employment: a survey of drivers, outcomes, and policies," OSF Preprints yg3t7, Center for Open Science.
    4. Duman, Anil, 2020. "Pay Gaps and Mobility for Lower and Upper Tier Informal Sector Employees: an investigation of the Turkish labor market," GLO Discussion Paper Series 655, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Wage gaps; non-parametric; Colombia; informality.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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