Demand: The Forgotten Side of Informal Economy Policy

Graeme Young

Policymakers who seek to support informal economic activity too often rely on supply-side solutions that fail to address the central needs of the urban poor.

Efforts should instead focus on the alleviation of poverty to ensure that potential customers have the economic means to buy sufficient food to meet their needs.

Governments must prioritize the promotion of adequate formal employment opportunities to ensure that the urban poor have livelihood options beyond informality.

Policy Brief No. 7

Featured City: Cape Town, South Africa, Kingston, Jamaica, Maputo, Mozambique, Nanjing, China

Featured Country: China, Jamaica, Mozambique, South Africa

Scroll to Top