Estudiante

The original use of the term ‘informal sector’ is attributed to the economic development model put forward by W. Arthur Lewis, used to describe employment or livelihood generation primarily withinthedeveloping world. It was used to describe a type of employment that was viewed as falling outside of the modern industrial sector.[2] An alternative definition uses job security as the measure offormality, defining participants in the informal economy as those 'who do not have employment security, work security and social security.”[3] While both of these definitions imply a lack of choice oragency in involvement with the informal economy, participation may also be driven by a wish to avoid regulation or taxation. This may manifest as unreported employment, hidden from the state for tax,social security or labour law purposes, but legal in all other aspects.[4]
The term is also useful in describing and accounting for forms of shelter or living arrangements that are similarly unlawful,unregulated, or not afforded protection of the state. ‘Informal economy’ is increasingly replacing ‘informal sector’[5] as the preferred descriptor for this activity.
Informality, both in housing andlivelihood generation has often been seen as a social ill, and described either in terms of what participant’s lack, or wish to avoid. A countervailing view, put forward by prominent Dutchsociologist Saskia Sassen is that the modern or new ‘informal’ sector is the product and driver of advanced capitalism and the site of the most entrepreneurial aspects of the urban economy, led by creativeprofessionals such as artists, architects, designers and soft-ware developers.[6] While this manifestation of the informal sector remains largely a feature of developed countries, increasingly systems areemerging to facilitate similarly qualified people in developing countries to participate[7]

The informal economy under any governing system is diverse and includes small-scaled, occasional...