How does informality impact job quality in the U.S.?5 answersInformality in the U.S. can significantly impact job quality, as seen in studies focusing on developing countries. While informality is often associated with poorer job quality due to lack of protections and rights, some research suggests that informality may not always equate to lower job satisfaction, especially for less-skilled workers. Factors such as legal status, gender, and individual preferences play a role in shaping the job quality experience for immigrant workers, highlighting the complexity of the relationship between informality and job satisfaction. Policymakers should consider these nuances when addressing informality in the U.S. labor market to ensure that efforts to improve job quality effectively target the most vulnerable workers.
How does informality impact job quality?5 answersInformality can have an impact on job quality. Studies have shown that informality is associated with lower job quality in terms of access to social security, earning differentials, working conditions, and job satisfaction. However, it is important to note that the relationship between informality and job quality is not straightforward. Some studies suggest that informality may be driven by choice rather than exclusion, and job satisfaction within different types of informal jobs can vary significantly. Additionally, the inclusion of informal jobs in analyses of job accessibility can lessen socio-spatial inequalities, especially in large developing cities. Overall, the impact of informality on job quality varies across countries and may be influenced by factors such as individual choice, skill level, and socio-spatial patterns.
What is “Informality City”?5 answersInformality City refers to the phenomenon of urban informality, which is characterized by unregulated urban quarters, unrecorded transactions, and unprotected workers. It is a mode of city making that is prevalent in cities of the Global South and the developing world, where informal settlements and slums have become the primary means of housing production for the urban disadvantaged and lower middle class. Informality City is not entirely unplanned, as it involves complex incremental adaptations and self-organized initiatives by residents, households, and communities. Scholars have recognized the power dynamics inherent in informality, with state power often excluding and criminalizing those deemed undesirable, while city-dwellers demonstrate agency through acts of resistance. Informality City is seen as an opportunity for innovative citizen-led solutions to real-world problems, rooted in local context and resources. Understanding the spatiality and morphogenesis of informal settlements can inform contextually responsive planning and design interventions.
Do lower taxes reduce informality? Evidence from Bangladesh?4 answersLower taxes can reduce informality, as evidenced by studies in Brazil and Bangladesh. In Brazil, reducing taxes after registration costs have been eliminated led to a reduction in firm informality, primarily through the formalization of existing informal firms. Similarly, in Bangladesh, the prevalence of informal employment and associated wage penalties were examined, indicating the presence of informality in the labor market. However, it is important to note that the impact of lower taxes on informality may vary depending on the specific context and factors at play.
What were the consequences of the dictatorship on the working class in Argentina?5 answersThe consequences of the dictatorship on the working class in Argentina were significant. The labor movement faced repression, with a high number of disappearances and imprisonment of labor leaders and activists. The level of repression was massive until mid-1978 and remained constant thereafter. The working class and labor force experienced complex transformations during different sub-periods, including the transition to democracy in the 1980s, neoliberal reforms in the 1990s, and economic growth with a transformation of the academic sphere after the 2001 crisis. Additionally, the rebellion of 2001 led to new developments in labor relations, such as the formation and expansion of the piquetero movement. The dictatorship also had long-lasting effects on Argentine society, contributing to the increase in juvenile violence since the 1990s.
Basic sector research on informal workers?5 answersThe research on informal workers in the basic sector focuses on various aspects. One study discusses the factors that influence work fatigue in informal sector workers, such as age, nutritional status, and workload. Another study analyzes the socio-economic conditions and economic efficiency of informal workers, finding that they face social deficiencies but earn higher incomes than the national average. A different study highlights the importance of the informal sector for employment and income generation, particularly for less skilled individuals in both urban and rural areas. Additionally, a study examines the involvement process of informal sector workers as a learning society, emphasizing their motivation, habituation process, and adherence to strict rules. Overall, these studies shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by informal workers and the need for policies to improve their socio-economic conditions.