Economia informal: definições operacionais, características gerais, metodologias de pesquisa e importância no âmbito das contas nacionais. ênfase para os casos de Moçambique e de África

Abstract

Although studies on the informal sector started about 30 years ago, until now there is a certain weakness in the respective literature which, in addition to being rather descriptive and not very analytical, lacks consensual concepts. Nevertheless, some institutions (Ex.: ILO and World Bank) have made efforts to bring the debate to a convergence, even if relative. Therefore, it can be said that there is already some framework that serves to delimit the concept of “informal sector”, with each country having the mission of developing more specific definitions for more analytical purposes. With regard to the reasons that give rise to the expansion of informal activities, there are several reasons, including the economic crises that shook the economies at the international level (in the 70s and 80s), and even in recent years, the adverse effects structural adjustment programs that, although they have produced relatively good results, have not yet been able to avoid problems such as the impoverishment of the most vulnerable strata of population. As for the future of informal activities, whether at the indigenous (or precarious) level, or at the level of productive micro-enterprises (licensed or unlicensed), the trend points to its continuity in the medium and long term. The solution to the problems of the growing economically active population related to the lack of employment and income cannot be solved in the short and medium term by resorting to job creation only by the formal sector. By assuming this, one would be making a serious mistake of perpetuating the lives of these thousands of people, many of them living in developing countries. The current wave of promotion and support for micro and small businesses not only through non-governmental organizations, but also by institutions such as the ILO and the World Bank is a recognition that the informal sector as well as small entrepreneurs in the formal sector can contribute. significantly to economic stability in developing countries. With regard to the problem of weak literature, but, fundamentally, of the poor monitoring of the phenomenon of the expansion of informal activities in developing countries, the blame can be placed on the lack of resources to undertake more comprehensive research. However, the need for reliable statistical data is imperative if the policies prescribed by policy makers are to have the desired effects.