Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda

While Africa's recent decade of growth and poverty reduction performance has been lauded, concern has been expressed regarding the structure of this growth. In particular, questions have been raised about whether the growth is based on a commodities boom, or whether it is the beginning of a structural transformation that will lift workers from low-productivity jobs into higher-productivity ones. Macro evidence has suggested that the structural transformation has not started. But macro analysis misses the evidence that the process of transformation has started, because this process begins at the household level. Household livelihoods do not move from ones based on subsistence farming and household level economic activities into livelihoods based on individual wage and salary employment away from the household in one leap -- this process takes generations. The intermediate step is the productive informal sector. It is income gains at the household level in this sector that fuel productivity increases, savings, and investment in human capital in this sector. Ensuring that most households are able to diversify their livelihoods into the non-farm sector through productive informality not only increases growth, but also allows the majority of the population to share in the growth process. This paper illustrates this point with the case of Uganda which followed this path and experienced two decades of sustained growth and poverty reduction.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fox, Louise, Pimhidzai, Obert
Format: Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:English
Published: 2011-10-01
Subjects:ABSOLUTE POVERTY, AGRICULTURAL INCOMES, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, AGRICULTURAL SECTORS, ANNUAL GROWTH, ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, AVERAGE INCOME, AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY, BENCHMARKS, CENTRAL REGION, COMMERCIAL CROPS, COMPETITIVENESS, COUNTRY LEVEL, CREDIT MARKETS, CROSS COUNTRY, DECISION MAKING, DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPING WORLD, DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, DEVELOPMENT REPORT, DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, DIVERSIFICATION, DRIVERS, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC HISTORIANS, ECONOMIC POLICIES, ECONOMIC POLICY, ECONOMIC THOUGHT, ECONOMIES OF SCALE, EMPIRICAL LITERATURE, EMPIRICAL WORK, EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, EXPLANATORY VARIABLES, EXPORTS, FAMILY LABOR, FARM INCOME, FARM INCOMES, FARM PRODUCTION, FARM SECTOR, FARMERS, FIXED EFFECTS, GDP, GDP PER CAPITA, GROWTH PROCESS, GROWTH PROSPECTS, GROWTH RATE, GROWTH RATES, HIGH GROWTH, HIGH INEQUALITY, HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION, HOUSEHOLD HEAD, HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE, HOUSEHOLD INCOMES, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, HOUSEHOLD WELFARE, HUMAN CAPITAL, IMPACT ON POVERTY, INCOME, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, INCOME GAINS, INCOME GROWTH, INCOME INEQUALITY, INCOME LEVELS, INCREASES GROWTH, INCREASING INEQUALITY, INCREASING RETURNS, INEQUALITY, INEQUALITY WILL, INFORMAL ECONOMY, INNOVATION, INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE, LABOR ECONOMICS, LABOR FORCE, LABOR MARKET, LABOR MARKETS, LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, LABOR SUPPLY, LABOUR, LIFE EXPECTANCY, LIQUIDITY, MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY, MILK, MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES, NATIONAL ACCOUNTS, NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS, NONFARM INCOME, PER CAPITA INCOME, POLICY IMPLICATIONS, POLICY RESEARCH, POLITICAL ECONOMY, POOR, POOR HOUSEHOLDS, POVERTY GAP, POVERTY HEAD, POVERTY MEASUREMENT, POVERTY REDUCING, POVERTY REDUCTION, PRIMARY EDUCATION, PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS, PRODUCTION RATIO, PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES, REDUCING INEQUALITY, REGIONAL PROJECT, RURAL, RURAL AREAS, RURAL CREDIT, RURAL HOUSEHOLD, RURAL HOUSEHOLDS, RURAL INCOMES, SAVINGS, SECTORAL COMPOSITION, SELF-EMPLOYMENT, SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE, SQUARED POVERTY GAP, STRUCTURAL CHANGE, STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION, SUBSISTENCE, SURPLUS LABOR, URBAN AREAS, URBAN POVERTY, VALUE ADDED, VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, WAGE EMPLOYMENT, WEALTH, WORKING CAPITAL,
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111031125636
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3632
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libraryname Biblioteca del Banco Mundial
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topic ABSOLUTE POVERTY
AGRICULTURAL INCOMES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
ANNUAL GROWTH
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
AVERAGE INCOME
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BENCHMARKS
CENTRAL REGION
COMMERCIAL CROPS
COMPETITIVENESS
COUNTRY LEVEL
CREDIT MARKETS
CROSS COUNTRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIVERSIFICATION
DRIVERS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC THOUGHT
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL WORK
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPORTS
FAMILY LABOR
FARM INCOME
FARM INCOMES
FARM PRODUCTION
FARM SECTOR
FARMERS
FIXED EFFECTS
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GROWTH PROCESS
GROWTH PROSPECTS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH GROWTH
HIGH INEQUALITY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD HEAD
HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GAINS
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVELS
INCREASES GROWTH
INCREASING INEQUALITY
INCREASING RETURNS
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY WILL
INFORMAL ECONOMY
INNOVATION
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LIQUIDITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MILK
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS
NONFARM INCOME
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY HEAD
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY REDUCING
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
REDUCING INEQUALITY
REGIONAL PROJECT
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL CREDIT
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
SAVINGS
SECTORAL COMPOSITION
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE
SQUARED POVERTY GAP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBSISTENCE
SURPLUS LABOR
URBAN AREAS
URBAN POVERTY
VALUE ADDED
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
ABSOLUTE POVERTY
AGRICULTURAL INCOMES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
ANNUAL GROWTH
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
AVERAGE INCOME
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BENCHMARKS
CENTRAL REGION
COMMERCIAL CROPS
COMPETITIVENESS
COUNTRY LEVEL
CREDIT MARKETS
CROSS COUNTRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIVERSIFICATION
DRIVERS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC THOUGHT
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL WORK
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPORTS
FAMILY LABOR
FARM INCOME
FARM INCOMES
FARM PRODUCTION
FARM SECTOR
FARMERS
FIXED EFFECTS
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GROWTH PROCESS
GROWTH PROSPECTS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH GROWTH
HIGH INEQUALITY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD HEAD
HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GAINS
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVELS
INCREASES GROWTH
INCREASING INEQUALITY
INCREASING RETURNS
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY WILL
INFORMAL ECONOMY
INNOVATION
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LIQUIDITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MILK
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS
NONFARM INCOME
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY HEAD
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY REDUCING
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
REDUCING INEQUALITY
REGIONAL PROJECT
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL CREDIT
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
SAVINGS
SECTORAL COMPOSITION
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE
SQUARED POVERTY GAP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBSISTENCE
SURPLUS LABOR
URBAN AREAS
URBAN POVERTY
VALUE ADDED
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
spellingShingle ABSOLUTE POVERTY
AGRICULTURAL INCOMES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
ANNUAL GROWTH
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
AVERAGE INCOME
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BENCHMARKS
CENTRAL REGION
COMMERCIAL CROPS
COMPETITIVENESS
COUNTRY LEVEL
CREDIT MARKETS
CROSS COUNTRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIVERSIFICATION
DRIVERS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC THOUGHT
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL WORK
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPORTS
FAMILY LABOR
FARM INCOME
FARM INCOMES
FARM PRODUCTION
FARM SECTOR
FARMERS
FIXED EFFECTS
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GROWTH PROCESS
GROWTH PROSPECTS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH GROWTH
HIGH INEQUALITY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD HEAD
HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GAINS
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVELS
INCREASES GROWTH
INCREASING INEQUALITY
INCREASING RETURNS
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY WILL
INFORMAL ECONOMY
INNOVATION
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LIQUIDITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MILK
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS
NONFARM INCOME
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY HEAD
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY REDUCING
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
REDUCING INEQUALITY
REGIONAL PROJECT
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL CREDIT
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
SAVINGS
SECTORAL COMPOSITION
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE
SQUARED POVERTY GAP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBSISTENCE
SURPLUS LABOR
URBAN AREAS
URBAN POVERTY
VALUE ADDED
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
ABSOLUTE POVERTY
AGRICULTURAL INCOMES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
ANNUAL GROWTH
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
AVERAGE INCOME
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BENCHMARKS
CENTRAL REGION
COMMERCIAL CROPS
COMPETITIVENESS
COUNTRY LEVEL
CREDIT MARKETS
CROSS COUNTRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIVERSIFICATION
DRIVERS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC THOUGHT
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL WORK
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPORTS
FAMILY LABOR
FARM INCOME
FARM INCOMES
FARM PRODUCTION
FARM SECTOR
FARMERS
FIXED EFFECTS
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GROWTH PROCESS
GROWTH PROSPECTS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH GROWTH
HIGH INEQUALITY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD HEAD
HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GAINS
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVELS
INCREASES GROWTH
INCREASING INEQUALITY
INCREASING RETURNS
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY WILL
INFORMAL ECONOMY
INNOVATION
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LIQUIDITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MILK
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS
NONFARM INCOME
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY HEAD
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY REDUCING
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
REDUCING INEQUALITY
REGIONAL PROJECT
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL CREDIT
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
SAVINGS
SECTORAL COMPOSITION
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE
SQUARED POVERTY GAP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBSISTENCE
SURPLUS LABOR
URBAN AREAS
URBAN POVERTY
VALUE ADDED
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
Fox, Louise
Pimhidzai, Obert
Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
description While Africa's recent decade of growth and poverty reduction performance has been lauded, concern has been expressed regarding the structure of this growth. In particular, questions have been raised about whether the growth is based on a commodities boom, or whether it is the beginning of a structural transformation that will lift workers from low-productivity jobs into higher-productivity ones. Macro evidence has suggested that the structural transformation has not started. But macro analysis misses the evidence that the process of transformation has started, because this process begins at the household level. Household livelihoods do not move from ones based on subsistence farming and household level economic activities into livelihoods based on individual wage and salary employment away from the household in one leap -- this process takes generations. The intermediate step is the productive informal sector. It is income gains at the household level in this sector that fuel productivity increases, savings, and investment in human capital in this sector. Ensuring that most households are able to diversify their livelihoods into the non-farm sector through productive informality not only increases growth, but also allows the majority of the population to share in the growth process. This paper illustrates this point with the case of Uganda which followed this path and experienced two decades of sustained growth and poverty reduction.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
topic_facet ABSOLUTE POVERTY
AGRICULTURAL INCOMES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
ANNUAL GROWTH
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
AVERAGE INCOME
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BENCHMARKS
CENTRAL REGION
COMMERCIAL CROPS
COMPETITIVENESS
COUNTRY LEVEL
CREDIT MARKETS
CROSS COUNTRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOCRACY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIVERSIFICATION
DRIVERS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC THOUGHT
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL WORK
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPORTS
FAMILY LABOR
FARM INCOME
FARM INCOMES
FARM PRODUCTION
FARM SECTOR
FARMERS
FIXED EFFECTS
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GROWTH PROCESS
GROWTH PROSPECTS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH GROWTH
HIGH INEQUALITY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD HEAD
HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME GAINS
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVELS
INCREASES GROWTH
INCREASING INEQUALITY
INCREASING RETURNS
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY WILL
INFORMAL ECONOMY
INNOVATION
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LIQUIDITY
MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY
MILK
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS
NONFARM INCOME
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY HEAD
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY REDUCING
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
REDUCING INEQUALITY
REGIONAL PROJECT
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL CREDIT
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
SAVINGS
SECTORAL COMPOSITION
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE
SQUARED POVERTY GAP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBSISTENCE
SURPLUS LABOR
URBAN AREAS
URBAN POVERTY
VALUE ADDED
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
author Fox, Louise
Pimhidzai, Obert
author_facet Fox, Louise
Pimhidzai, Obert
author_sort Fox, Louise
title Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
title_short Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
title_full Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
title_fullStr Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda
title_sort is informality welfare-enhancing structural transformation? evidence from uganda
publishDate 2011-10-01
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111031125636
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3632
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AT pimhidzaiobert isinformalitywelfareenhancingstructuraltransformationevidencefromuganda
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spelling dig-okr-1098636322021-04-23T14:02:11Z Is Informality Welfare-Enhancing Structural Transformation? Evidence from Uganda Fox, Louise Pimhidzai, Obert ABSOLUTE POVERTY AGRICULTURAL INCOMES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SECTORS ANNUAL GROWTH ANNUAL GROWTH RATE AVERAGE INCOME AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY BENCHMARKS CENTRAL REGION COMMERCIAL CROPS COMPETITIVENESS COUNTRY LEVEL CREDIT MARKETS CROSS COUNTRY DECISION MAKING DEMOCRACY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPING WORLD DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DEVELOPMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT REPORT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DIVERSIFICATION DRIVERS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC HISTORIANS ECONOMIC POLICIES ECONOMIC POLICY ECONOMIC THOUGHT ECONOMIES OF SCALE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE EMPIRICAL WORK EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT GROWTH EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYMENT STATUS EXPLANATORY VARIABLES EXPORTS FAMILY LABOR FARM INCOME FARM INCOMES FARM PRODUCTION FARM SECTOR FARMERS FIXED EFFECTS GDP GDP PER CAPITA GROWTH PROCESS GROWTH PROSPECTS GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HIGH GROWTH HIGH INEQUALITY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD HEAD HOUSEHOLD HEAD AGE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HOUSEHOLD SURVEY INSTRUMENT HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSEHOLD WELFARE HUMAN CAPITAL IMPACT ON POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME GAINS INCOME GROWTH INCOME INEQUALITY INCOME LEVELS INCREASES GROWTH INCREASING INEQUALITY INCREASING RETURNS INEQUALITY INEQUALITY WILL INFORMAL ECONOMY INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE LABOR ECONOMICS LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKETS LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LABOR SUPPLY LABOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY LIQUIDITY MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY MILK MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES NATIONAL ACCOUNTS NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMISTS NONFARM INCOME PER CAPITA INCOME POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLICY RESEARCH POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR POOR HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY GAP POVERTY HEAD POVERTY MEASUREMENT POVERTY REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION PRIMARY EDUCATION PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCTION RATIO PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES REDUCING INEQUALITY REGIONAL PROJECT RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL CREDIT RURAL HOUSEHOLD RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INCOMES SAVINGS SECTORAL COMPOSITION SELF-EMPLOYMENT SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE SQUARED POVERTY GAP STRUCTURAL CHANGE STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION SUBSISTENCE SURPLUS LABOR URBAN AREAS URBAN POVERTY VALUE ADDED VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT WAGE EMPLOYMENT WEALTH WORKING CAPITAL While Africa's recent decade of growth and poverty reduction performance has been lauded, concern has been expressed regarding the structure of this growth. In particular, questions have been raised about whether the growth is based on a commodities boom, or whether it is the beginning of a structural transformation that will lift workers from low-productivity jobs into higher-productivity ones. Macro evidence has suggested that the structural transformation has not started. But macro analysis misses the evidence that the process of transformation has started, because this process begins at the household level. Household livelihoods do not move from ones based on subsistence farming and household level economic activities into livelihoods based on individual wage and salary employment away from the household in one leap -- this process takes generations. The intermediate step is the productive informal sector. It is income gains at the household level in this sector that fuel productivity increases, savings, and investment in human capital in this sector. Ensuring that most households are able to diversify their livelihoods into the non-farm sector through productive informality not only increases growth, but also allows the majority of the population to share in the growth process. This paper illustrates this point with the case of Uganda which followed this path and experienced two decades of sustained growth and poverty reduction. 2012-03-19T18:05:55Z 2012-03-19T18:05:55Z 2011-10-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111031125636 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3632 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5866 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Africa Africa Sub-Saharan Africa East Africa Uganda