Informality among multi-product firms

Dennis Becker

No 250009, Working Papers from Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management

Abstract: This paper introduces product-level regulation as a new driver of informality and diversification in a model of heterogeneous multi-product firms and endogenous product choice. Firms face regulations at both the firm- and product-level and may comply with or evade either regulation. The model suggests that firm-level regulation directly causes informality by deterring firm registration. However, the product-level regulation has two effects: it directly drives product informality as evasion of product regulation leading to informality within the formal sector and indirectly deters firms from registering. Further, I demonstrate that the Gini coefficient and Herfindahl index can be implemented in multi-product firm models as revenue-based measures of product diversification. Contrary to the prediction of the commonly used product scope, the revenue-based measures indicate informal firms to be more diversified than formal firms.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Institutional and Behavioral Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40
Date: 2014-11
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:cudawp:250009

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.250009

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