Premium
The informal economy, insecurity and social cohesion in Latin America
Author(s) -
TOKMAN Víctor E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international labour review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.433
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1564-913X
pISSN - 0020-7780
DOI - 10.1111/j.1564-913x.2007.00006.x
Subject(s) - informal sector , latin americans , social protection , social security , welfare state , cohesion (chemistry) , public sector , flexicurity , developing country , welfare , developed country , flexibility (engineering) , european union , economics , economic growth , private sector , development economics , political science , labour economics , sociology , economic policy , economy , market economy , population , chemistry , demography , management , organic chemistry , politics , law
Most Latin American countries adopted the welfare state as a model, though developing it in very different ways and, often, imperfectly because of structural differences between them and the industrialized countries. Social protection coverage is still patchy, with many informal‐sector workers not covered and widespread public feelings of insecurity. The author examines the complicated structural and labour situation and the latest ideas in Latin America and the European Union to strengthen social cohesion. He analyses approaches to incorporating the informal sector into the modern sector, addressing social exclusion, combining flexibility for employers with security for workers, and achieving near‐universal social protection.