Measurement of the shadow economy is notoriously difficult as it requires estimation of economic activity that is deliberately hidden from official transactions. Surveys typically understate the size of the shadow economy but econometric techniques can now be used to obtain a much better understanding of its size. The shadow economy constitutes approximately 10 per cent of GDP in the UK; about 14 per cent in Nordic countries and about 20 - 30 per cent in many southern European countries. The main drivers of the shadow economy are (in order): tax and social security burdens, tax morale, the quality of state institutions and labour market regulation. A reduction in the tax burden is therefore likely to lead to a reduction in the size of the shadow economy. Indeed, a virtuous circle can be created of lower tax rates, less shadow work, higher tax morale, a higher tax take and the opportunity for lower rates. Of course, a vicious circle in the other direction can also be created.

The shadow economy

We investigated the influence of economic and political institutions on the prevalence rate of formal and informal entrepreneurship across 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region during the period 2001–2010. We found the quality of institutions to exercise a substantial influence on both formal and informal entrepreneurship. One standard-deviation increase in the quality of economic and political institutions could double the rates of formal entrepreneurship and halve the rates of informal entrepreneurship. The two types of institutions had a complementary effect on driving entry into formal entrepreneurship, whereas only direct effects were observed for informal entry.

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Economic and political institutions and entry into formal and informal entrepreneurship

Refers to discussions at the 2002 International Labour Conference and the 2003 and earlier International Conferences of Labour Statisticians, where the need for a proper definition and measurement chriteria of employment in the informal sector and of informal employment was pointed out.

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Measuring the informal economy: from employment in the formal sector to informal employment

This paper challenges several common myths that cloud discourse about urban development in Africa. It finds that urbanization in the region is not excessive or imbalanced relative to the experience of other regions. Internal migration, which is not the main source of urban growth, does not account for urban poverty. Migration appears favorable on balance for sending and receiving areas, and population mobility benefits rural and urban households as many retain a foothold in both areas to spread risks. Although Africa has been frequently described as featuring a disconnect between urbanization and economic growth, in reality most of the economic growth that has taken place in the past decade derives from mainly urban-based sectors (industry and services), and this is especially true of the better-performing economies. But cities have clearly not lived up to their productive potential because of widespread neglect and bad management. Urban poverty is not mainly a function of urban expansion, nor is it a sign of failure of the urban economies in Africa. There is evidence that much of the deprivation in cities, and the emerging urban public health problems, relate to institutional failures that perpetuate social exclusion and inequalities between the urban poor and the urban non-poor.

The urban transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: implications for economic growth and poverty reduction

This authoritative compendium brings together the latest thinking of leading academics, actuaries, and insurance and development professionals in the microinsurance field. The result is a practical, wideranging resource that provides the most thorough overview of the subject to date. The book covers the many aspects of microinsurance in detail including product design, marketing, premium collection, and governance. It also discusses various institutional arrangements available for delivery including the community-based approach, insurance companies owned by networks of savings and credit cooperatives, and microfinance institutions. The roles of key stakeholders are also explored and the book offers insightful strategies for achieving the right balance between coverage, costs, and price. Protecting the Poor is essential reading for insurance professionals, practitioners, and anyone involved with offering insurance to low-income persons.

Protecting the poor: A microinsurance compendium

This book, including this introductory chapter, is structured to interrogate each of the components of transnational labour law (TLL): its characterization as law, its relationship to 'labour' and 'labour law' and its 'transnational' character. Each component raises points of convergence and disjuncture with the past. For although TLL has risen in response to the period of globalization, this handbook suggests that its roots lie in earlier moments, like 1919, when concerned actors sought to address the challenges inherent to the affirmation that 'the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries'. TLL builds on the multiple, and largely mutually reinforcing, accounts of its past, but also loosens the grip both of a unitary, centralizing framing of the 'sovereign nation state,' however tripartite its conception, as the sole responsible actor; and of an accompanying exclusively statist understanding of law. 
This draft chapter has been published by Edward Elgar Publishing in Research Handbook on Transnational Labour Law by Adelle Blackett and Anne Trebilock published in 2015.

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Conceptualizing transnational labour law

AIDS and the Workplace. Some Policy Pointers from International Labour Standards.

Examines the effects of economic structural adjustment programmes on employers and workers. Advocates a tripartite consultation approach whereby workers’ and employers’ representatives are encouraged to participate alongside governments in economic and social policy formulation, from an early stage. Discusses the results of five case studies carried out by the ILO to assess the extent of tripartite co‐operation in Argentina, India, Mexico, the Philippines and Zambia. Concludes that the nature of tripartite consultation greatly reflects the type of labour relations system ‐ corporatist, pluralistic or emergent ‐ in a particular country. Makes suggestions for future improvements to the whole structural adjustment process.

Structural adjustment and tripartite consultation

While public international organizations share the aspirations and values behind the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the way in which this instrument is being followed up may pose some practical challenges for them. The Convention mentions such organizations and their officials, but in the context of an instrument whose logic is overwhelmingly directed towards States. In the course of UNCAC implementation review, some unfortunate confusion has arisen between administrative justice and criminal jurisdiction, and around the privileges and immunities regime for international organizations. At the same time, follow-up to the Convention may offer new opportunities for such organizations to strengthen their alignment of responsibility, authority and accountability through so far underutilized means of coordination and cooperation. Strengthening accountability mechanisms and respect for due process – two components of the Global Administrative Law approach – offer the best prospects for enhancing international organizations' efforts against corruption. An exaggerated focus on transparency, on the other hand, could run counter to effective measures to combat it.

Implications of the UN Convention against Corruption for International Organizations: Oversight, Due Process, and Immunities Issues

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ilr.12183

Anne Trebilcock

Papers

Conceptualizing transnational labour law

AIDS and the Workplace. Some Policy Pointers from International Labour Standards.

Structural adjustment and tripartite consultation

Implications of the UN Convention against Corruption for International Organizations: Oversight, Due Process, and Immunities Issues

The Rana Plaza disaster seven years on: Transnational experiments and perhaps a new treaty?