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Informalization, Economic Growth and the Challenge of Creating Viable Labor Standards in Developing Countries
PERI Working Papers
  • James Heintz, University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Working Paper Number
60
Publication Date
1-1-2003
Disciplines
Comments
Working Papers 60
Abstract

Over recent decades, there has been the substantial rise in the proportion of people engaged in what is termed informal employment, generating a broad trend toward “informalization” of labor market conditions in developing countries, even when economic growth is proceeding. We consider the relationship between the rise of informalization and the corresponding ascendancy of neoliberal policies in developing countries, focusing in particular on how the decline in average per capita GDP growth associated with neoliberalism has fostered informalization. We then explore policy measures for raising the proportion of decent jobs with core social protections in developing countries—which means, as we argue, reversing the process of informalization. We examine policy measures in two areas: raising the rate of economic growth and improving the regulation of labor markets.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/1276322
Citation Information
James Heintz and Robert Pollin. "Informalization, Economic Growth and the Challenge of Creating Viable Labor Standards in Developing Countries" (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert_pollin/25/