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The causes and consequences of informality in Peru

Author

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  • Norman Loayza

    (The World Bank)

Abstract

Adopting a legal definition of informality, this article studies the causes of informality in general and with a particular application to Peru. It starts with a discussion on the definition and measures of informality, as well as on the reasons why widespread informality should be of great concern. Then, the article analyzes informality’s main determinants, arguing that informality is not single-caused but results from the combination of poor public services, a burdensome regulatory regime, and weak monitoring and enforcement capacity by the state. This combination is especially explosive when the country suffers from low educational achievement and features demographic pressures and primary production structures. Finally, using cross-country regression analysis, the article evaluates the empirical relevance of each determinant of informality. It then applies the estimated relationships to the case of Peru in order to assess the country-specific relevance of each proposed mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Norman Loayza, 2007. "The causes and consequences of informality in Peru," Working Papers 2007-018, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbp:wpaper:2007-018
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Loayza, Norman V., 1996. "The economics of the informal sector: a simple model and some empirical evidence from Latin America," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 129-162, December.
    2. Maloney, William F., 2004. "Informality Revisited," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 1159-1178, July.
    3. Guillermo E. Perry & William F. Maloney & Omar S. Arias & Pablo Fajnzylber & Andrew D. Mason & Jaime Saavedra-Chanduvi, 2007. "Informality : Exit and Exclusion," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6730, April.
    4. Barro, Robert J & Lee, Jong-Wha, 2001. "International Data on Educational Attainment: Updates and Implications," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 53(3), pages 541-563, July.
    5. Dominik H. Enste & Friedrich Schneider, 2000. "Shadow Economies: Size, Causes, and Consequences," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(1), pages 77-114, March.
    6. Loayza, Norman V. & Rigolini, Jamele, 2006. "Informality trends and cycles," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4078, The World Bank.
    7. Klarita Gërxhani, 2004. "The Informal Sector in Developed and Less Developed Countries: A Literature Survey," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 120(3_4), pages 267-300, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Marc Montaud & Nicolas Pecastaing, 2013. "A macroeconomic assessment of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Peru: A CGE analysis," Working Papers hal-01880341, HAL.
    2. Jean-Marc Montaud & Nicolas Pecastaing, 2013. "A macroeconomic assessment of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Peru: A CGE analysis," Working Papers hal-01880341, HAL.
    3. Tomás Opazo, 2024. "Climbing the (in)formality job ladder: Determinants and Dynamics of Labour Informality in Peru," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 1028, Central Bank of Chile.
    4. Marco Antonio Pérez Méndez, 2023. "Dualidad del mercado laboral, crecimiento regional y la evolución de la pobreza/Labor market duality, regional growth, and poverty evolution," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 38(2), pages 261-292.
    5. Cristian Barra & Anna Papaccio, 2024. "Does Regulatory Quality Reduce Informal Economy? A Theoretical and Empirical Framework," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 172(2), pages 543-567, March.
    6. David Bardey & Daniel Mejia, 2019. "Informality and Optimal Public Policy," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Spring 20), pages 1-19.
    7. Janina León C., 2012. "Educación, seguridad social y mercados de trabajo en el Perú," Capítulos de Libros PUCP / Chapters of PUCP books, in: Cecilia Garavito & Ismael Muñoz (ed.), EMPLEO Y PROTECCIÓN SOCIAL, edition 1, chapter 10, pages 331-355, Fondo Editorial - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
    8. Leal Ordóñez, Julio C., 2010. "Informal sector, productivity, and tax collection," MPRA Paper 26058, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Oct 2010.
    9. Jean-Marc Montaud & Nicolas Pecastaing, 2013. "A macroeconomic assessment of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Peru: A CGE analysis," Working papers of CATT hal-01880341, HAL.
    10. Vargas, Jose P Mauricio, 2012. "To be or not to be informal?: A Structural Simulation," MPRA Paper 41290, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Schröter, Lars, 2008. "Die Rolle des informellen Sektors in der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung Argentiniens [The role of the informal sector in the economic development of Argentina]," MPRA Paper 11661, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 14 Nov 2008.
    12. Gheorghe H. Popescu & Adriana Ana Maria Davidescu & Catalin Huidumac, 2018. "Researching the Main Causes of the Romanian Shadow Economy at the Micro and Macro Levels: Implications for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-37, September.
    13. Kahhat, Ramzy F. & Williams, Eric D., 2010. "Adoption and disposition of new and used computers in Lima, Peru," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 501-505.
    14. World Bank, 2012. "Ecuador : The Faces of Informality (Las Caras de La Informalidad) [Ecuador - Las caras de la informalidad]," World Bank Publications - Reports 13252, The World Bank Group.
    15. Galarza, Francisco & Requejo, Fernando, 2019. "Reducing Informality Using Two-Sided Incentives: Theory and Experiment," Working Papers 2019-003, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • K20 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - General
    • K30 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - General
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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