Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?

Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the different explanations provided by competing theories for informal sector competitors being viewed as hindering formal entrepreneurs more in some countries than others. Theoretical background: These theories variously explain such cross-cou...

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Main Author: Colin C Williams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Nacional de Estudos em Empreendedorismo e Gestão de Pequenas Empresas (ANEGEPE) 2020-09-01
Series:Regepe Entrepreneurship and Small Business Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://regepe.org.br/regepe/article/view/1981
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author Colin C Williams
author_facet Colin C Williams
author_sort Colin C Williams
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the different explanations provided by competing theories for informal sector competitors being viewed as hindering formal entrepreneurs more in some countries than others. Theoretical background: These theories variously explain such cross-country variations as determined by: economic under-development (modernization theory); government over-interference and high taxes (neo-liberal theory); too little government intervention (political economy theory), or the asymmetry between the laws and regulations of formal institutions and entrepreneurs’ views on the acceptability of participating in the informal economy (institutional theory). Methods: To evaluate these theories, the chosen method focus on World Bank Enterprise Survey data on 31 Latin American and Caribbean countries using binary probit regression analysis. Main results: The findings show significant cross-country differences, ranging from 58.1 per cent of entrepreneurs viewing informal sector competition as a major constraint in Bolivia to 11.1 percent in Dominica. The binary probit regression analysis confirms the modernization and institutional theories, only partially confirms political economy theory, but refutes neo-liberal theory. Theoretical contribution: The paper concludes by discussing the implications for theory and the policy initiatives required to reduce informal sector competition.
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spelling doaj.art-06084fb65a3f4155848621799d7d10b52023-09-03T12:27:13ZengAssociação Nacional de Estudos em Empreendedorismo e Gestão de Pequenas Empresas (ANEGEPE)Regepe Entrepreneurship and Small Business Journal2965-15062020-09-019410.14211/regepe.v9i4.1981Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?Colin C Williams0University of Sheffield Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the different explanations provided by competing theories for informal sector competitors being viewed as hindering formal entrepreneurs more in some countries than others. Theoretical background: These theories variously explain such cross-country variations as determined by: economic under-development (modernization theory); government over-interference and high taxes (neo-liberal theory); too little government intervention (political economy theory), or the asymmetry between the laws and regulations of formal institutions and entrepreneurs’ views on the acceptability of participating in the informal economy (institutional theory). Methods: To evaluate these theories, the chosen method focus on World Bank Enterprise Survey data on 31 Latin American and Caribbean countries using binary probit regression analysis. Main results: The findings show significant cross-country differences, ranging from 58.1 per cent of entrepreneurs viewing informal sector competition as a major constraint in Bolivia to 11.1 percent in Dominica. The binary probit regression analysis confirms the modernization and institutional theories, only partially confirms political economy theory, but refutes neo-liberal theory. Theoretical contribution: The paper concludes by discussing the implications for theory and the policy initiatives required to reduce informal sector competition. https://regepe.org.br/regepe/article/view/1981EntrepreneurshipInformal economyEconomic developmentDevelopment economicsLatin America and the Caribbean
spellingShingle Colin C Williams
Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
Regepe Entrepreneurship and Small Business Journal
Entrepreneurship
Informal economy
Economic development
Development economics
Latin America and the Caribbean
title Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
title_full Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
title_fullStr Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
title_full_unstemmed Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
title_short Why do Informal Sector Competitors Hinder Formal Entrepreneurs More in Some Countries?
title_sort why do informal sector competitors hinder formal entrepreneurs more in some countries
topic Entrepreneurship
Informal economy
Economic development
Development economics
Latin America and the Caribbean
url https://regepe.org.br/regepe/article/view/1981
work_keys_str_mv AT colincwilliams whydoinformalsectorcompetitorshinderformalentrepreneursmoreinsomecountries