Labour Mobility and Informality: Romanian Migrants in Spain and Ethnic Entrepreneurs in Croatia

Abel Polese, Ignacio Fradejas-García, Ružica Šimić Banović, Vlatka Škokić, Tanel Kerikmäe, José Luis Molina, Mirela Alpeza, Miranda J. Lubbers and Alberica Camerani
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Abel Polese: Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland / Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia / Institute of Social Theory and Dynamics, Japan / Dublin City University, Ireland
Ignacio Fradejas-García: School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Iceland
Ružica Šimić Banović: Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Vlatka Škokić: Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, Croatia
Tanel Kerikmäe: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
José Luis Molina: Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Mirela Alpeza: Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Miranda J. Lubbers: Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Alberica Camerani: Dublin City University, Ireland

Politics and Governance, 2022, vol. 10, issue 2, 279-292

Abstract: Post-Weberian definitions see the state–individual relationship as a “do ut des” one. The state grants protection, education, medical care, and its citizens contribute labour, compliance, and taxes. When this does not occur, it is generally accepted that the citizens are deviating from state goals. However, there are cases where lack of compliance stems from the fact that society members do not feel protected by formal structures, and they rely on informal ones to replace, supplement, or even compete with state institutions. The starting point of this article is that this lack of support may result from enhanced labour mobility (and migration) across Europe, and may enhance the creation and persistence of informal practices. Taking advantage of two case studies, Romanian migrants to Spain and ethnic entrepreneurs in Croatia, we observe how governance is constructed and provide two novel interpretative frameworks. First, we explore the use of informality (informal practices) to suggest that apparently insignificant actions that are repeated routinely and without much thought, are a way to contribute to the construction of the political and that everyday governance should receive more attention. Second, we use this claim to argue that a better understanding of informality can help identify governance areas where interventions are more urgent. These are the spheres of public life where it is possible to identify a larger gap between the wishes of a state and the ways citizens actually act as they informally avoid or bypass its rules.

Keywords: Croatia; informality; labour mobility; Spain; welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:poango:v10:y:2022:i:2:p:279-292

DOI: 10.17645/pag.v10i2.5166

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