Spatial variations in the nature of undeclared work and its public policy implications

Abstract

It has been recently revealed that depicting undeclared work as everywhere composed of income-oriented market-like work oversimplifies and obscures its heterogeneous meanings and spatially variable nature. Although the undeclared work of people living in affluent areas is predominantly income-oriented market-like work, such work for people inhabiting deprived neighbourhoods is largely composed of community-oriented work akin to paid mutual aid. This paper explores the implications for public policy of this reading of its geographical variations. The outcome is a proposal for a geographically sensitive twin-track policy approach appreciative of the spatially variable nature of undeclared work.

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Colin C. Williams

The author would like to thank the reviewers of an earlier version of this paper for their insightful comments. He also wishes to thank both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Small Business Service (SBS) for funding projects to develop the ideas contained in this paper. The usual disclaimers apply. The recommendations are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of either the ODPM, SBS or UK government.