The informal economy : a primer for development professionals on the importance of the informal economy in developing countries

Could the informal economy be the route to deliver the big sustainable development ideals such as the Green Economy, Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction Strategies, given that its share is rapidly increasing and that the poor mostly operate here? In some developing countries, the share of the informal economy is greater than that of the formal economy. Government planners, donors and NGOs could use the informal or the formal economy to help lift up the wellbeing of the poor and address global challenges such as climate change, but choosing one over the other could lead to most efforts missing the mark. Planning food security, agricultural development, climate adaptation, low-carbon development, and housing requires a careful consideration of the current and future role of the informal economy. In attempting to answer questions about whether or not the informal economy is an impediment to development, whether it should be eliminated or promoted, we realise that the informal economy is not fully understood, is not clearly separated from the formal economy, is difficult to measure and does not necessarily imply illegality. These are among the 10 key messages that this paper raises for development professionals operating in any sector, in developed and developing countries