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on Informal and Underground Economics |
| By: | Guerino Ardizzi (Bank of Italy); Carmelo Petraglia (University of Napoli Federico II); Massimiliano Piacenza (Department of Economics and Public Finance "G. Prato", University of Torino); Gilberto Turati (Department of Economics and Public Finance "G. Prato", University of Torino) |
| Abstract: | We contribute to the debate on how to assess the size of the shadow economy by proposing a reinterpretation of the traditional Currency Demand Approach (CDA) a là Tanzi. In particular, we introduce three main innovations. First, we take a direct measure of cash transactions (the flow of cash withdrawn from bank accounts relative to total noncash payments) as the dependent variable in the money demand equation. This allows us to avoid using the Fisher equation, overcoming two severe critiques to the traditional CDA. Second, we include among covariates two distinct measures of ‘detected’ tax evasion, in place of the tax burden level. Finally, we control also for a new ‘criminal’ component of the shadow economy, considering money demand for illegal activities like drug dealing and prostitution. We propose an application of this ‘modified – CDA’ to a panel of 91 Italian provinces for the years 2005-2008. |
| Keywords: | Shadow economy, Currency demand approach, Cash transactions, Evasion, Crime |
| JEL: | E26 E41 H26 K42 O17 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tur:wpaper:22&r=iue |
| By: | Erick CESPEDES RANGEL |
| Abstract: | La matriz de contabilidad social presentada en este documento tiene como principales aportes 1) lograr una clasificación de las actividades considerando que estas pueden formales o informales, 2) diferenciar el consumo intermedio para las actividades formales e informales, 3) clasificar al valor agregado en remuneración al trabajo y remuneración al capital, eliminando así la cuenta denominada ingreso mixto en el sistema de cuentas nacionales; 4) desagregar por actividades el pago de parafiscales (SENA, ICBF y Cajas de Compensación Familiar); 5) crear una cuenta asociada a la remuneración de los recursos naturales de subsuelo y 6) clasificar a Ecopetrol aparte de las demás firmas. |
| Date: | 2011–08–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000118:008957&r=iue |
| By: | Aterido, Reyes; Hallward-Driemeier, Mary; Pages, Carmen |
| Abstract: | Seguro Popular was introduced in 2002 to provide health insurance to the 50 million Mexicans without Social Security. This paper tests whether the program has had unintended consequences, distorting workers'incentives to operate in the informal sector. The analysis examines the impact of Seguro Popular on disaggregated labor market decisions, taking into account that program coverage depends not only on the individual's employment status, but also that of other household members. The identification strategy relies on the variation in Seguro Popular's rollout across municipalities and time, with the difference-in-difference estimation controlling for household fixed effects. The paper finds that Seguro Popular lowers formality by 0.4-0.7 percentage points, with adjustments largely occurring within a few years of the program's introduction. Rather than encouraging exit from the formal sector, Seguro Popular is associated with a 3.1 percentage point reduction (a 20 percent decline) in the inflow of workers into formality. Income effects are also apparent, with significantly decreased flows out of unemployment and lower labor force participation. The impact is larger for those with less education, in larger households, and with someone else in the household guaranteeing Social Security coverage. However, workers pay for part of these benefits with lower wages in the informal sector. |
| Keywords: | Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Labor Markets,Labor Policies,Housing&Human Habitats,Population Policies |
| Date: | 2011–08–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5785&r=iue |
| By: | Ricardo ROCHA GARCIA |
| Abstract: | En contravía de la visión convencional la construcción de proyectos de infraestructura tiene una reducida capacidad de absorción de mano de obra no calificada y por lo tanto de contribuir a reducir la pobreza, al menos con el estado de la tecnología y el marco institucional vigentes. La oferta de empleos no calificados que habría dentro de la pobreza extrema es cuatro veces la demanda. De acuerdo con la GEIH, cerca de 77 mil ocupados, un 18% de los ocupados del sector de la construcción declara trabajar como obreros en obras de infraestructura, con el siguiente perfil: hombre, jefe de hogar, convive en pareja, entre 18 y 34 años, educación primaria, alta rotación en el trabajo, contrato informal y destrezas básicas en construcción. Por otro lado, la estimación de un modelo de matching con la información de RED JUNTOS, se identificaron 326 mil potenciales obreros. Además, de acuerdo con los grupos focales realizados constructores y obreros comparten una adversa relación laboral donde los primeros prefieren tecnologías intensivas en bienes de capital, mano de obra calificada y uso de componentes prefabricados, y los obreros desean cambiar de oficio que no los atrape en la informalidad, con su inestabilidad y bajos ingresos. |
| Date: | 2011–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000118:008946&r=iue |