Background: Increasing demand for home care is a critical issue for the European Union (EU) and policy directions for improving the quality of care and labour conditions have been set out in the European Care Strategy. Access to collective bargaining is a key element of this. However, worker organisation in the sector is generally weak and trade union strength is in decline particularly in liberal welfare states within the EU. The European Institute for Gender Equality (2021) estimates that about 9 out of 10 paid care workers are women, with one in four having a migrant background. A high level of informality prevails in the sector. According to the European Labour Authority (2022), about half of care workers in domestic settings are undeclared workers. Funding models relying on poorly regulated use of cash transfers can encourage the employment of workers under informal contractual arrangements. Coupled with existing challenges, platform work is now a growing feature of the sector. It is evident that in the digitalised, post-pandemic world of work a new approach to organising workers is required. Approach: This paper examines the challenges and opportunities that this context presents for organising care workers needs, representing the care workforce and creating sustainable approaches to care through digital platform solutions including commercial and cooperative based approaches. Results: The paper sets out a dichotomy of approaches for with regard to representing the concerns of platform based care workers. Implications: The paper outlines the implications of the EU Directive on Platform Work, and also the possible implications associated with the transposition of the Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages and Collective Bargaining Coverage in creating a sustainable workforce in home care provision

Purpose This study investigates the relationship between informal employment (IE) and economic growth (EG) across countries at different stages of development. Specifically, it examines whether IE promotes or constrains EG, and whether institutional factors such as economic freedom (EF) and government expenditure (GE) moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a balanced panel dataset of 161 countries from 2011 to 2019. Long-run econometric estimators including fixed effects, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares are applied to address endogeneity, serial correlation and unobserved heterogeneity. IE is treated as the key independent variable, while per capita income, GE, EF and unemployment are included as control variables. A quadratic specification is incorporated to capture non-linear threshold effects. Findings The results confirm a statistically significant inverted U-shaped relationship between informality and EG. Moderate levels of IE initially support growth, but excessive informality inhibits gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth. EF and GE exert significant positive effects on growth. Unemployment exhibits an indirect short-run positive effect by pushing workers into informal activities that sustain consumption and productivity. The positive growth effect of informality is strongest in emerging economies and weakest in high-income countries. Research limitations/implications This study reinforces the need to incorporate IE into mainstream economic development models rather than treating it as a residual labour category. The findings confirm that the relationship between informality and growth is non-linear and income-dependent, suggesting that future research should examine threshold levels of informality across different institutional settings and sectors. The results also highlight the importance of accounting for unpaid and informal work in national accounts, labour-market modelling, and development theory. Scholars may further extend this research by exploring how digitalisation, automation, and financial inclusion influence the transition from informal to formal employment. Practical implications The results show that the informal sector (IS) is a major source of jobs and economic stability, especially in emerging economies. Policies should not try to remove informality suddenly but should improve working conditions and support a gradual shift toward formality. Measures such as skills development, entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, and digital access can increase income and productivity. Policy design should differ across income groups and sectors because the impact of informality on growth is not uniform. Social implications The IS plays a central role in reducing poverty by offering work to low income and vulnerable groups. Expanding access to microfinance, social protection, and skill building can improve income security and reduce inequality. Supporting informal workers can contribute to more inclusive growth where formal jobs are limited. Originality/value This study is one of the few that analyses the nonlinear link between IE and EG across many countries while combining dual sector theory, the Kuznets curve, and institutional perspectives. It offers evidence for designing development policies that support inclusive and sustainable growth.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the institution of Sharia courts in Kabarda from 1917 to the 1930s as an element of Soviet national and religious policy in the North Caucasus. The study is based on a wide range of archival sources, including documents from local and central authorities, court transcripts, and statistical materials. The research identifies the main stages of the evolution of state-Islamic relations: from the initial pragmatic recognition of Sharia courts during the Civil War to their systematic restriction and complete elimination by the end of the 1920s. Special attention is given to the analysis of contradictions in Soviet legal policy, which combined tactical concessions with a strategic focus on unifying the legal space. The study shows that, despite the formal liquidation of Sharia courts, Islamic legal culture retained its influence at an informal level. It is concluded that the process of transformation of Sharia judicial proceedings reflected the general logic of Soviet state-building, characterized by a consistent tightening of religious policy and the targeted eradication of religious legal practices by the early 1930s.

Purpose: In recent decades, financial technologies (FinTech) have emerged as pivotal instruments for the transformation of global financial systems, particularly in contexts characterised by high levels of labour informality. This study analyses the capacity of FinTech to promote the inclusion of informal workers, who have been traditionally excluded from formal financial services.Design/methodology/approach: The study evaluates the effectiveness of FinTech solutions, such as digital payments and microcredit, in contexts with poor infrastructure and regulatory barriers. It also considers challenges like financial and digital literacy among informal workers.Findings: Despite the advances witnessed in the provision of digital tools, many informal workers encounter obstacles due to a lack of financial and digital literacy, which hinders their full and sustainable integration into the financial system. The results indicate the necessity for public policies adapted to local realities and a more comprehensive approach to FinTech design that addresses the specificities of informal work.Originality/value: The study paves the way for future research that integrates technological innovations with structural and contextualised financial inclusion, offering insights into how FinTech can better serve informal workers while overcoming existing barriers.

Walkable urban environments are increasingly recognized as essential for sustainable mobility, public health, and social well-being. While macro-scale indicators of walkability are widely used, growing evidence highlights the importance of street-level physical conditions experienced at eye level. Advances in computer vision and street view imagery (SVI) offer new opportunities to quantify such streetscape characteristics, yet the applicability of existing semantic segmentation models in developing urban contexts remains underexplored. This study evaluates the suitability of five state-of-the-art semantic segmentation models for streetscape analysis using crowdsourced SVI from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Through a comparative analysis, Oneformer was identified as the most suitable semantic segmentation model, uniquely successful in identifying street vendors through surrogate semantic class (base) and street furniture. A rigorous quantitative validation using manually annotated images confirmed the model’s reliability, achieving an mIoU of 65.7% within the complex urban fabric of Phnom Penh. This performance stems from OneFormer’s unified task-conditioned framework, which integrates semantic, instance, and panoptic information within a single query. Such an architecture ensures enhanced boundary stability and semantic coherence by consolidating visual noise into meaningful units, making it particularly robust for processing the irregular street elements typical of Southeast Asian cities. Applying the selected model revealed pronounced spatial variation in streetscape composition across three neighborhoods, reflecting distinct development stages and levels of informality. These findings suggest that carefully selected pretrained models can yield analytically useful representations of streetscape conditions in data-constrained settings, supporting more context-sensitive and inclusive urban analysis in rapidly developing cities.

ABSTRACT The former Soviet Union's restrictions on citizens' foreign travel or emigration were notoriously draconian. Yet what replaced them in the fifteen independent states of the post‐Soviet region has not been well analysed. Outside the Baltic republics, the monolithic and prohibitive policies of the Soviet past have given way to a patchwork of restrictions with more complex motivations reflecting the diversity of contemporary Eurasian states. However, while many more people in the region can travel abroad when they wish, exit remains a privilege, rather than an enforceable right. Post‐Soviet states' exit policies increasingly resemble those in other primarily authoritarian contexts around the world, albeit somewhat marked by Eurasian regimes' high levels of both coercive capacity and informality and the weakness of labour and the left. We conclude that the USSR's fixation on preventing exit was historically exceptional as a policy on foreign travel, rather than paradigmatic, and severely limited the regime's own migration policy options. In a paradox, the relaxation of blanket prohibitions has only increased the post‐Soviet state's freedom to tailor restrictions on exit to its interests far more effectively than the USSR ever could.

Purpose: The study aimed to the effect of central bank interest rates on economic growth in Brazil Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study on the effect of Central Bank interest rates on economic growth in Brazil reveals that interest rate changes have a significant impact on economic performance, with rate hikes slowing down growth by reducing investment and consumption. However, the study also finds that the transmission mechanism is not immediate and is influenced by Brazil’s unique financial structure, including credit market segmentation and high levels of informality in the economy. While higher interest rates effectively control inflation, they can adversely affect growth, particularly in credit-sensitive sectors. The study emphasizes the need for complementary policies, such as structural reforms or fiscal measures, to mitigate these negative growth effects while still achieving inflation control. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study on Central Bank interest rates and economic growth in Brazil contributes to theory by adapting macroeconomic models to Brazil’s unique financial structure. It provides practical insights for policymakers and businesses on the real-world effects of interest rate changes on growth. The research highlights the need for complementary policies to balance inflation control with economic growth. It also offers recommendations for improving monetary policy effectiveness in emerging markets like Brazil. Ultimately, the study aids in designing more nuanced policies that promote both stability and long-term growth.

Environmental education, implemented at both formal and informal levels, plays a significant role in the transformation process towards a Circular Economy (CE). In the Baltic Sea Region (BRS), the significant role of the forestry sector is worth noting, as it contributes to strengthening the CE agenda through the sustainable and circular management of wood processing waste. However, currently, environmental education on the potential uses of this waste, for the general public (including youth), students, and professionals, is quite limited. Therefore, this paper presents a conceptual approach to developing an education roadmap. The scope of work includes identifying the education gap in the forestry sector using a questionnaire survey among residents of the Baltic Sea Region, and then developing a concept for an education roadmap consistent with the CE assumptions. The presented concept of roadmap is a comprehensive document that analyses the educational needs, challenges, and opportunities related to the sustainable use of forest biomass in a given region. Strategic assumptions and educational priorities were identified and implemented in this document. Our findings contribute to aligning forestry education with broader environmental and economic goals in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. This study supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land) by providing practical insights for advancing circular economy education in natural resource management.

Objectives Peer mentoring in substance use settings is increasingly recognized in the extant literature as a viable and effective approach to support those with substance use issues. However, there is little literature on the role of the peer in educational and physical exercise rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this study is to explore peer mentoring on an integrated substance use educational and fitness program called Boxing Clever. Methods The study consists of a qualitative methodology with a sample (n = 32) of peer mentors, former participants, and professionals, and was guided by a Research Advisory Group. Data were collected using focus group interviews, which were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results Three themes were identified from data analysis: 1) peers act as a bridge for the program and participants; 2) peers grow and develop through emerging identities; and 3) growth is cultivated through challenging encounters. The data illustrate that peer mentors are valued by service users and professionals. Peers can instill hope and help service users engage in the program through a level of informality. Mentors described using the role for the purpose of personal and professional development, such as further training, education, and employment. However, the role is not without challenges, which also provides an opportunity for personal growth, development, and identity formation. Conclusion Peer mentors can play an important role on integrated educational rehabilitation programs such as Boxing Clever. Findings are discussed for practice and future research.

This research provides the first comprehensive analysis of the rural–urban wage gap in Colombia, with a focus on the coffee and cocoa sectors, over the past two decades. Using household survey microdata from 2001 to 2023 and international sources, we estimate wage differentials and apply econometric models—including Mincerian wage regressions and Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions. Results reveal a persistent and substantial wage gap: on average, rural coffee and cocoa workers earn roughly half as much as urban manufacturing workers. Even after controlling for education, experience, and other characteristics, a substantial share of the gap remains unexplained, indicating structural issues such as lower productivity, elevated levels of informality, and labor market segmentation in rural areas. Moreover, time-series evidence from the past two decades shows no significant convergence between rural and urban wages. Comparative analysis with Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American countries highlights how policy interventions, such as rural social protection programs, labor formalization, and support for agricultural cooperatives, have helped narrow rural–urban wage disparities elsewhere. Drawing on these lessons, we discuss policy implications for Colombia and recommend measures to boost rural human capital, strengthen labor institutions, expand social safety nets, and promote rural economic development. These recommendations aim to gradually close the rural–urban wage divide, reduce rural poverty, and foster inclusive growth.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have transformed various aspects of human life today, business included. In business organisations, ICT possess the potential of enhancing organisational processes and could contribute to their bottom-line performance. However, there is a critical shortage of ICT-related skills in South Africa, a challenge which motivated the present literature review. The objectives of the review were to establish the major ICT skills that are in demand within South African business organisations; to determine the causes of ICT skill shortages in South Africa, and to suggest possible solutions for ICT skills shortage in South African business organisations. A systematic review of the literature was done by searching the Web of Science (WoS) and SCORPUS databases. The PRISMA framework was relied on for question development whilst several inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. A total of seven (7) articles were included in the review. The major findings were that there is a high demand for soft ICT-related skills in South Africa. Some of the major skills that are needed in the job market are graphic designing, automation, content creation, software development and social networking. The major causes of ICT skills shortage in South Africa are skills mismatches, potential costs of integrating ICTs, country effects and a skills-oriented economy. Also, there are various firm-level factors which can lead to ICT skills shortages, including the type of firm ownership, its level of innovation and informality. The strategies which can be used to address ICT skills shortages include the use of PPPs, training and education and attending to the current ICT-related policies. The research carries implications on ICT policy development because the findings directly map the root causes of ICT skills shortage.

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of financial development, ICT diffusion, and institutional quality on the shadow economy in 13 post-communist transition countries from 2000 to 2020. Using panel quantile regression, the analysis accounts for heterogeneous dynamics across the sampled economies. The findings reveal that an enhancement in financial development significantly reduces the size of the shadow economy, particularly in countries with high levels of informality. Furthermore, improvements in institutional quality and the adoption of advanced ICT infrastructure are identified as fundamental factors in curbing informal economic activities. The positive relationship between per capita GDP growth and the shadow economy suggests that informality is deeply rooted in the fundamental economic structure. The study concludes that policies aimed at increasing financial development, improving governance, and promoting ICT diffusion are crucial for controlling the shadow economy.

Abstract Argentina has around 5,000 km of coastline and one of the world's largest continental shelves. Its enormous marine wealth supports a thriving large-scale industrial fishery. In contrast, the artisanal fishing sector remains far less developed. Its origins trace back to the late 1800s, when European immigrants introduced it in Buenos Aires province, primarily in the ports of Mar del Plata and Bahía Blanca. These fisheries peaked in the 1960s but saw limited expansion in the rest of the country. Today, the artisanal fishing landscape has shifted: traditional fishing ports have very small artisanal fleets, while the activity has expanded in other regions such as Patagonia. Additionally, new commercial operations using semi-rigid boats and kayaks have gained prominence in Buenos Aires. By combining the limited available statistics with interviews from key informants, we identified 60 fishery units along the coast, encompassing 15 distinct metiers and employing nearly 1,000 vessels and around 3,000 fishers in extractive activities. Using a Factor Analysis of Mixed Data on 13 variables —including vessel and gear characteristics, fishing operation, and catch utilisation—we categorised these units into three groups: Strictly Small-Scale Fisheries, Medium Small-Scale Fisheries, and Semi-industrial fisheries. These clusters exhibit varying levels of informality and management intensity. We compare Argentina’s artisanal marine sector with those of other developing and developed nations, analysing its evolution in recent decades and discussing key challenges and priorities for its sustainable management.

Type of the article: Research Article AbstractThis study examines the relationship between the Kaitz index (a measure of the minimum wage relative to median earnings) and the size of the shadow economy across selected European countries. The analysis uses Eurostat official statistics for 2018–2022 (panel data). Research investigates whether higher minimum wages, as reflected in the Kaitz index, contribute to labor market distortions, informal employment, and tax evasion. To quantify the shadow economy, we employ the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) approach, a method widely used in empirical studies of the shadow economy. The shadow economy level is calculated as the proportion of hidden value added relative to GDP. The results reveal that increases in both the Kaitz index and GDP growth are significantly linked with reductions in the shadow economy, while previous levels of informality contribute to its persistence. These insights highlight the potential of minimum wage regulation and sustained economic growth as tools for reducing informal employment, particularly when supported by strong institutional enforcement. The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between the Kaitz index and the shadow economy share, highlighting implications for wage and labor market policy.

Introduction. The Ukrainian economy is experiencing a profound structural crisis, where the consequences of large-scale war overlap with long-standing imbalances such as the dominance of raw material exports, high levels of informality, and low innovation dynamics. Post-war recovery cannot be limited to the physical reconstruction of damaged assets; it requires the creation of a new development model focused on productivity, technological modernization, and integration into the single market of the European Union. Methods. The methodological framework is based on systemic and interdisciplinary approaches. The study applies economic and statistical analysis to assess the dynamics of macroeconomic indicators, comparative analysis of post-war recovery experiences in the Balkans and Western Europe, structural analysis of Ukraine’s «bottlenecks» (energy, logistics, industry, human capital), and institutional analysis of strategic frameworks (the Lugano Declaration, Ukraine Recovery Plan, and Ukraine Facility). Scenario analysis is used to identify short- and medium-term transformation priorities. Results. The research demonstrates that the wartime supply shock has evolved into a long-term constraint on growth potential. Recovery is adaptive in nature and heavily dependent on external financing, which in 2025 is projected to exceed 38 billion USD. The total reconstruction needs are estimated at 524 billion USD, while indirect losses, measured in terms of value-added, surpass 385 billion USD. The short-term priorities include macro-financial stabilization, the restoration of critical infrastructure, and business support, whereas the medium-term goals encompass institutional modernization, the development of financial markets, the expansion of public and private partnerships, and the advancement of human capital. The study introduces a coordinating matrix of «constraints–opportunities – instruments», linking sectoral investment priorities with the implementation of European Union law, the «Build Back Better» principle, and the involvement of international financial mechanisms.. Discussion. Further research should focus on quantitative modelling of multiplier effects from targeted investments in priority sectors, the assessment of conditionality in external financing tied to reform progress, and micro-level evaluation of cluster-based and defence-industrial initiatives on productivity and employment. Keywords: post-war recovery, structural transformation, economic security, energy, logistics, human capital, capital markets, European integration, strategic planning.

this study explores the direct impact of financial socialization on financial well-being and also evaluates the mediating effect of financialtrust, degree of control, and optimism as psychological factors, drawing on theories of family financial socialization, social learning, and behavioralfinance. Using structural equation modeling for an adult sample, the results indicate that financial socialization has a positive, but weak,direct effect on financial well-being. However, this effect is intensified when psychological factors, particularly financial trust, intervene. Theanalysis revealed complementary partial mediation, suggesting that, overall, indirect effects outweigh the direct effect. These findings emphasizethe importance of individual beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes in strengthening the relationship between formative experiences in childhoodand financial well-being in adulthood. In the Mexican context, characterized by high levels of informality and limited access to formal financialservices, the results highlight the importance of consolidating homes as spaces for economic education. It is recommended that financial educationstrategies simultaneously integrate socio-emotional skills and practical financial management tools to optimize the use of public resources andamplify the social impact of regional financial inclusion and well-being policies.

ABSTRACT Although the opportunities and challenges of the informal sector have received much attention in recent decades, understanding how the characteristics of informal work intersect with and shape youths’ imagined futures remains understudied. Addressing this gap is crucial, given region-specific increases in the number of youth entering the urban informal sector, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa. This paper focuses on in-depth ethnographic research undertaken in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with 22 young informal vendors aged 15–35. Life-mapping interviews and participatory timeline diagrams were used to develop rich insights into participants’ past, present and imagined lives and livelihoods. It extends the concept of ‘being and becoming’, developed to examine the interwoven nature of youths’ present and future lives, by analysing how young vendors navigate the intersection of their past experiences, present realities, and future possibilities through informal work in urban spaces. The article highlights the complex temporality of youths’ informal livelihoods by exploring their goals and ambitions, income generating activities, experiences of customer-related challenges, and perspectives on self-employment. Through this, it argues that youths’ histories shape their futures as much as the unfolding of their lives in the present. It also positions young vendors as future-makers who actively construct their futures through informal work. In the context of growing socio-economic uncertainty, this paper provides a timely contribution to geographical perspectives on youth by examining how young vendors navigate, sustain, adapt, and reimagine their lives and livelihoods within increasingly uncertain urban contexts marked by high levels of informality.

This research article examines the socioeconomic crisis affecting the municipality of Villa del Rosario (Co-lombia) following the unilateral closure of the border by the Venezuelan government. To this end, a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and inferential study was conducted using stratified sampling and social surveys in the municipality’s most populated neighborhoods: La Esperanza, San Gregorio, Santander, La Parada, Antonio Nariño, and 20 de Julio. The findings show that the population faces precarious socioeconomic conditions, especially with regard to housing and access to essential public services. In the economic and labor spheres, high levels of informality, unemployment, and vulnerability are identified. Therefore, the analysis is framed within the theory of realism, which emphasizes the primacy of the security and stability of states in the management of international relations. The deep historical and cultural ties that unite border communities are also highlighted. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that it is urgent for both the national government and Colombian territorial entities to recognize the specific characteristics and dynamics of border areas, assuming a genuine commitment to their comprehensive and sustainable development.

Abstract: In this article, we discuss how the North Korean government has dealt with the emergence of a private labor market within the country. We utilize theories from the comparative study of political control in authoritarian regimes, and examine a novel mechanism of material co-optation by which North Korean workers purchase the right to exit the state sector and work in the private sector. This form of material co-optation has developed since the 1990s, with the state allowing workers to enter the private sector for a fee, on the understanding that they will submit to state surveillance and indoctrination. We utilize a wide array of qualitative sources, including interview testimony, official North Korean sources, and South Korean survey data to develop a composite picture of official and unofficial employment in the country. Further, we show how the regime accepts some level of informality, which helps to enrich some of its workers, while keeping many workers in a position of structural disadvantage of underemployment in the state sector.

Social assistance cash transfers, known locally as grants, are the only regular financial support available to low-income families in South Africa. There are two broad categories: poverty alleviation and disability-related grants. All disability-related grants are linked with the public sector health system, because only medical doctors are permitted to conduct the required assessments. This article reflects on a three-year qualitative study of the perspectives of stakeholders around the central focus of the Care Dependency Grant for primary caregivers of disabled children. In this article, various framings of disability-related grants are unpacked, with a specific focus on the gatekeeping practices of frontline social security officials in South Africa. I situate their behaviours within local and global conversations about systems for disability benefits assessment and distribution, which increasingly aim to suppress bureaucratic "emotionality" for fear that this produces subjective - and thus, unfair - decision-making. The latter imperative is intensified in South Africa because of justified concerns about corruption. In an under-resourced bureaucracy catering to a large population, however, high levels of informality are likely to persist. Building on Rupert Hodder's concept of positive informality, I share examples of "constructive" informality from the abovementioned study and argue for the importance of closely examining and learning from these instances. I conclude by suggesting that instead of trying to suppress their humanity, public servants' engagement with the populace could be enhanced by investing in their professional development toward increased empathy and relationship-building. This might be an untapped complementary approach to improving social justice in redistributive efforts.