Publication

This issue of the CAD discusses the informal sector (i.e., economic activity that is not regulated or protected by the state) in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. More specifically, the first article wonders if it’s possible to estimate the size of the informal sector in Armenia, particularly since informal economic activities are still prevalent among large businesses, SMEs and a significant portion of the adult population. The second article then estimates the scale and composition of the informal economy in Azerbaijan, to include the extent and structure of informal employment within the country. Finally, the last piece looks at self-employed entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises in Georgia and how they share some of the same characteristics as the informal business sector.