What is it about?
The book “Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions, and Challenges” explores the pivotal role of the informal economy in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines how informal economic activities contribute to global development objectives like poverty reduction, decent work, and gender equality, while also presenting the challenges they face, such as limited access to formal markets and social protections. Through interdisciplinary perspectives, case studies, and policy discussions, the book highlights successful interventions and strategies that support the informal sector's sustainability. It provides valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners aiming to incorporate informal economic actors into inclusive and sustainable development efforts.
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Why is it important?
The book “Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions, and Challenges” is important because it addresses a critical yet often overlooked sector of the global economy that plays a significant role in poverty alleviation, employment generation, and social inclusion. The informal economy encompasses millions of workers and enterprises, particularly in developing regions, that operate outside formal regulatory frameworks but are essential to local and national economies. By examining how this sector contributes to and interacts with the SDGs, the book sheds light on the need for inclusive policies that recognize and support informal economic actors. It emphasizes the importance of integrating the informal economy into sustainable development agendas, offering innovative solutions and policy recommendations to foster equity, resilience, and environmental sustainability, making it a key resource for shaping future economic and social development strategies.
Perspectives
The book “Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions, and Challenges” provides diverse perspectives on the informal economy's intersection with the global agenda for sustainability. It brings together viewpoints from academics, policymakers, and practitioners, offering a multidimensional analysis of how the informal sector contributes to, and is affected by, sustainable development. These perspectives cover topics such as economic inclusivity, social protection, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and regulatory challenges, as well as the role of innovation in improving informal sector outcomes. In terms of content, the book covers key areas including theoretical insights on the informal economy’s role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), case studies that showcase successful interventions, and policy recommendations for better integrating informal economic actors into national development frameworks. It examines how informal economies drive social inclusion, economic growth, and resilience in regions where formal systems are less accessible, particularly in developing economies. The book is important because it fills a significant gap in the discourse around sustainable development by focusing on an often-underrepresented sector. It highlights the informal economy's role in achieving SDGs like poverty reduction, decent work, and sustainable economic growth, while also addressing the unique challenges this sector faces, such as lack of access to finance, formal markets, and social safety nets. By offering practical policy interventions and global perspectives, the book is crucial for informing future research and shaping inclusive policy frameworks that will ensure the informal economy is recognized as a key player in global sustainable development efforts.
A Vinodan, Ph.D
Central University of Tamil Nadu
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This page is a summary of: Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions and Challenges, October 2024, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/9781837539802.
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