Informality, Labour Mobility and Precariousness

From the erosion of state legitimacy in Lebanon to the use of smartphones in Kyrgyzstan, from a Polish suburb to the music scene in Azerbaijan, this volume attempts to explain why, in a variety of world regions, a substantial number of people tend to ignore or act against state rules. We propose to look at informality beyond simplistic associations of the phenomenon with a single category such as "informal labour" or "corruption". By doing this, we propose to look for a correlation between the emergence, and persistence, of some informal practices and the quality of governance in a given area. We also suggest that a better understanding of the variety of informal practices present in a region can help conceptualising more adequate interventions and eventually improve the socio-economic conditions of its inhabitants.  

Abel Polese is a researcher, trainer, writer, manager and fundraiser. His interest in theory and practice of development led him to work across disciplines, conduct research and design interventions in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. An alumnus of the Global Young Academy, he is interested in mental health and support for early career researchers, scholars at risk and researchers from the Global South. He is the author of The SCOPUS Diaries and the (il)logics of Academic Survival: A Short Guide to Design Your Own Strategy and Survive Bibliometrics, Conferences, and Unreal Expectations in Academia, a reflection on academic life, research careers and the choices and obstacles young scholars face at the beginning of their career.