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Formalizing employment in Africa's small firms: Experimental evidence from Côte d‘Ivoire

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  • Fietz, Katharina
  • Lakemann, Tabea
  • Beber, Bernd
  • Priebe, Jan
  • Lay, Jann

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  • Fietz, Katharina & Lakemann, Tabea & Beber, Bernd & Priebe, Jan & Lay, Jann, 2025. "Formalizing employment in Africa's small firms: Experimental evidence from Côte d‘Ivoire," VfS Annual Conference 2025 (Cologne): Revival of Industrial Policy 325459, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc25:325459
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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