The Stealth of Nations: Informal Work in the 21st Century
03.Feb.2021 9:00 AM . 2 min read
In the Winter 2021 Edition
According to the UN International Labor Organization, two billion people are informal workers, or 62 percent of the total number of workers in the world. With the rise of transnational corporations and technological innovation, workers’ employment status is increasingly informal: without long-term contracts, union support, or even outside legal protections. On the other hand, informal work can offer newfound flexibility, self-governance, and employment opportunities.
This edition of the
Harvard International Review focuses on untraditional work, in particular the challenges of legal protections, economic development, and the globalization of labor markets. In recent years, the informal economy has only grown in significance, from the emergence of rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft to the displacement of millions of workers around the world due to