The HW Arndt Lecture honours Professor Heinz Arndt's long and distinguished career in development economics and Asia-Pacific regional studies.
Informality: why it persists, what can be done about it?
Informality is a persistent feature of labour markets in developing countries. In this lecture, Professor Kunal Sen examines the causes of persistent informality and possible solutions. He will first discuss the ambiguity that exists on conceptualising and measuring informality. He then describes the patterns in informality across developing countries and examines the causes of informality. Finally, he will discuss ways to reduce informality, noting the lack of credible evidence on which policies are effective, as well as the lack of agreement in the policy community on how to address informality.
Event Speakers
Professor Kunal Sen
Professor Kunal Sen is a leading international expert on the political economy of growth and development. He has performed extensive research on international finance, the political economy determinants of inclusive growth, the dynamics of poverty, social exclusion, female labour force participation, and the informal sector in developing economies.
Yixiao Zhou
Yixiao Zhou is Associate Professor in Economics at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics and Director of China Economy Program, Crawford School of Public Policy. Yixiao’s research work focuses on three areas: global macroeconomics, the role of technology and innovation in economic growth, and the Chinese economy.