Rethinking the Informal Economy: Linkages with the Formal Economy and the Formal Regulatory Environment

This paper explores the relationship of the informal economy to the formal economy and the formal regulatory environment. It begins with a discussion of the concept of the informal economy and its size, composition, and segmentation. It then discusses the linkages between the informal economy and the formal economy and the formal regulatory environment. The conclusion suggests why and how more equitable linkages between the informal economy and the formal economy should be promoted through an appropriate inclusive policy and regulatory environment.informal sector, informal economy, informal enterprises, informal workers, formal economy, formal regulatory environment, linkages, formalization

Rethinking the Informal Economy: Linkages with the Formal Economy and the Formal Regulatory Environment

informal sector, legality, gender, regulation, policy

The Pandemic, Informality and Poverty: Rethinking Economic Policy Responses to the Informal Economy

Informal workers, who represent over 60 per cent of all workers globally, were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic restrictions and recession. The pandemic exposed the pre-existing disadvantages that informal workers face as well as the essential goods and services they provide. To reduce poverty and inequality going forward, it is important to build on this new-found recognition of the contributions of informal workers and promote an enabling policy and regulatory environment towards them

Cornell-SEWA-WIEGO 2008 Dialogue - Ahmedabad and Delhi Compendium of Personal and Technical Notes

Food Security and Poverty, International Development, International Relations/Trade,

INFORMAL SECTOR AND SOCIAL POLICY Compendium of Personal and Technical Reflections Cornell-SEWA-WIEGO Exposure and Dialogue Program Oaxaca, Mexico

Food Security and Poverty, International Development, International Relations/Trade,

Cornell-SEWA-WIEGO 2008 Dialogue - Ahmedabad and Delhi Compendium of Personal and Technical Notes

WP 2008-15 August 200

HLA Alleles Associated with Delayed Progression to AIDS Contribute Strongly to the Initial CD8(+) T Cell Response against HIV-1

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the immunodominance patterns of HIV-1-specific T cell responses during primary HIV-1 infection and the reasons for human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) modulation of disease progression. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In a cohort of 104 individuals with primary HIV-1 infection, we demonstrate that a subset of CD8(+) T cell epitopes within HIV-1 are consistently targeted early after infection, while other epitopes subsequently targeted through the same HLA class I alleles are rarely recognized. Certain HLA alleles consistently contributed more than others to the total virus-specific CD8(+) T cell response during primary infection, and also reduced the absolute magnitude of responses restricted by other alleles if coexpressed in the same individual, consistent with immunodomination. Furthermore, individual HLA class I alleles that have been associated with slower HIV-1 disease progression contributed strongly to the total HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cell response during primary infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate consistent immunodominance patterns of HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cell responses during primary infection and provide a mechanistic explanation for the protective effect of specific HLA class I alleles on HIV-1 disease progression

A gamble on the monsoon: Coping with seasonality and drought in Western India

Rural households, particularly in the semi-arid areas of India, routinely plan for and manage uncertainty, including both regular seasonal and periodic drought-induced shortages. However, the literature on rural India has not paid sufficient attention to how people cope with uncertainty. This study presents empirical evidence from a single village in a semi-arid region of Western India on the strategies adopted by different types of households to cope with regular seasonality and drought conditions (specifically, the 1985-87 drought). The study is based on two different but complementary data sets: one quantitative (using survey instruments); the other qualitative (using ethnographic methods). The aim was to design survey instruments based on insights and hypotheses generated by preliminary ethnography and to use ethnographic methods to investigate elusive or complex topics. The main surveys, conducted three times during the study year, included: an agro-economic survey; a time allocation survey; a household food consumption survey; and a survey of household consumption of fuel, fodder, and water. The main qualitative methods included life-histories, case-studies of selected resources and institutions, genealogies, and participant observation. Given the gradual erosion of the traditional social security system, demographic pressures on local resources and occupations, and the absence of government social security except under conditions of severe shortage, the village economy remains vulnerable despite moderate growth and development. Seasonal fluctuations and overall shortages heighten this vulnerability. During the 1987 drought, government relief works proved effective in reducing local vulnerability. However, whereas the government generally responds to drought conditions, regular seasonal fluctuations draw little, if any, official attention of response. During the slack winter season each year, when local labor opportunities are low, at least one-sixth of the households in the study village migrate for wage labor. The study argues that droughts need to be analyzed not only as short-term isolated phenomena but also as longer-term repeated phenomena which, together with seasonal fluctuations, help determine rural livelihood options and patterns