Informal Economic Activities in Industrialized Nations: Insights From Belgium and the United Kingdom

Abstract

This study examines how informal economic activities (IEAs) can be (re)formalized in a way that will not destroy their potential for being assets for community development. The very concept of collaborative development in public administration is applied to social work’s asset-based community development (ABCD). This cross-application enables the exploration of alternatives for the challenges encountered in IEAs within industrialized nations. The authors argue that IEAs differ from the underground economy and deserve a different policy response. Social capital will be the overarching framework. Studies of two Western European countries (specifically, Belgium and the UK) will be used as examples.

Keywords:

• Asset-based community development
• collaborative development
• informal
• economic activity
• social capital