The informal economy in developing nations : hidden engine of innovation? / / [edited by] Erika Kraemer-Mbula, Sacha Wunsch-Vincent [[electronic resource]]

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910136598103321
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2016
• ISBN: 1-316-79867-4; 1-316-79921-2; 1-316-79930-1; 1-316-66207-1; 1-316-79939-5; 1-316-79975-1; 1-316-79948-4
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (xxxiv, 408 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)
• Collana: Intellectual property, innovation and economic development
• Disciplina: 330
• Soggetti: Informal sector (Economics) - Developing countries; International organization; International cooperation
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 27 Oct 2016).
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Cover ; Half-title page; Reviews ; Series page; Title page; Copyright page; Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; List of Contributors; Foreword; Foreword; Preface; Disclaimer; Introduction; 1 The Informal Economy: Definitions, Size, Contribution and Main Characteristics; Comment 1.1; Comment 1.2; 2 Innovation in the Informal Economy; Comment 2.1; Comment 2.2; Comment 2.3; 3 A Study of the Informal Metalworking Sector in Nairobi; Comment 3.1; 4 Informal Manufacturing of Home and Personal Care Products in South Africa; Comment 4.1; 5 Herbal Medicine in the Informal Sector of Ghana; Comment 5.16 Appropriation and Intellectual Property in the Informal Economy; Comment 6.1; Comment 6.2; Comment 6.3; 7 Innovation Policy and the Informal Economy: Toward a New Policy Framework; Comment 7.1; Comment 7.2; 8 Formulating an Agenda for the Measurement of Innovation in the Informal Economy; Comment 8.1; ; Annex 1 Ad Hoc Interview Guidelines and Questionnaires; Annex 2 Extract 1 from the Generic Questionnaire of Stage 2 of the 1-2-3 Survey; Annex 3 Kenya 2014 MSME Survey; Index
• Sommario/riassunto: The informal economy represents a significant share of output and employment in many developing countries. Yet little is known about this hidden engine of innovation. This pioneering study addresses some crucial questions, including: what is the role of the informal sector in economic development? How does innovation occur in the informal economy? How does it spread, who are the key actors and what impacts does it have? How do inventors and entrepreneurs in the informal economy reap benefits from their innovations? What stops informal sector innovation from scaling up? How can informal sector innovation in developing countries be measured? And what policies might support informal sector innovation and improve its impacts? This book will stimulate further work on this crucial but under-researched subject. As well as rich empirical evidence from several groundbreaking studies, it includes conceptual and methodological tools and policy recommendations to help researchers and policy-makers understand innovation in the informal economy.