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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
social sciences
Enforced informalisation: The case of liquor retailers in South Africa
Development Southern Africa, Volume 30, No. 4-5, Year 2013
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Description
After a decade of unsuccessful efforts to migrate informal businesses to South Africa's formal economy there remains little understanding of the dynamics in this sector, especially as regards micro-enterprises. International literature discusses 'exit' and 'exclusion', holding that poor law enforcement is the reason for the persistence and growth of the informal economy. Through examining the informal liquor retail (shebeen) sector, we demonstrate that enforcement actually produces informality in this sector. Illustrated with examples from one of our sites in Delft South, Cape Town, the article describes key aspects of shebeen business practice, including the responses to greater law enforcement. Notably, instead of closing shop or facing the hurdles of compliance, the great majority of shebeens continue to evade the law by downscaling their activities. This finding has implications not just for liquor policy in South Africa, but for understanding both theories of formalisation and theories of the informal economy. © 2013 Development Bank of Southern Africa.
Authors & Co-Authors
Charman, Andrew J.E.
South Africa, Cape Town
Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation
Petersen, Leif M.
South Africa, Cape Town
Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation
Piper, Laurence E.
South Africa, Cape Town
Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation
South Africa, Bellville
University of the Western Cape
Statistics
Citations: 32
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/0376835X.2013.817306
ISSN:
0376835X
e-ISSN:
14703637
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Locations
South Africa