Research Activities
Research Projects 2026
Urban Informal Sector in Africa
Outline
Large informal sector features the labor markets in African countries, and replacing this to formal employment remains a major challenge. Recently, informal enterprises (self-employed/micro-workshops) are gaining opportunities to work within formal frameworks. This shift is driven by aid agencies and governments prioritizing the informal sector in development policy, coupled with the increasing use of online platforms by micro-enterprises. Through case studies, this research examines whether and how this "formalization" in the informal sector leads to firm growth and upgrading of job quality. The research is novel for analyzing the growth potential of informal operators through the lens of their interaction with formal institutions.
Period
April 2026 - March 2028
Members
| Role | Member |
|---|---|
| [ Organizer ] | Fukunishi, Takahiro |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Yoshizaki, Hinako |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Matsubara, Kana(Tokyo University of Science Assistant Professor) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Ideue, Kazuyo(Meiji Gakuin University Junior Associate Professor) |
*Affiliations are as of April 2026.
Expected Outcome
- Book published by IDE (Japanese)