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Labour Market Policies and the Informal Sector: A Segmented Labour Markets Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Dürdane Şirin Saracoğlu

    (Department of Economics, METU)

Abstract
In this paper we develop a dynamic model of a multi-sector economy with an informal sector and segmented labour markets first to demonstrate how informal production and employment decline in transition towards the steady state, and second to analyse the impact of various labour market policies at the steady state. Our results primarily indicate that informal employment share increases with minimum wage, and decreases with reductions in the payroll taxes, moreover, reducing the tax imposed on employer is more effective in reducing the informal employment share, while reducing the tax imposed on employee is more effective in increasing consumer felicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Dürdane Şirin Saracoğlu, 2017. "Labour Market Policies and the Informal Sector: A Segmented Labour Markets Analysis," ERC Working Papers 1705, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised May 2017.
  • Handle: RePEc:met:wpaper:1705
    as

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    File URL: http://erc.metu.edu.tr/en/system/files/menu/series17/1705.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2017
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Segmented labour markets; informal employment; payroll taxes; minimum wage; dynamic modelling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • J42 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Monopsony; Segmented Labor Markets
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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