CI 403 Monsoon 2023

CI 403: INFORMAL SECTOR: AN INTRODUCTION
Monsoon Semester 2023
Course Instructor: . Archana Prasad ([email protected])

M.A First Semester: Compulsory Course
Credits: 4
Internal Assessment: 2 Credits, End Semester: 2 Credits
Lectures: 4 hours a week: Monday 3-5 PM and Wednesday 11 AM-1 PM
This course introduces students to the theories, methods and concepts with respect to
informality in labour relations. Though much studied and discussed phenomenon, has
characterised the discourses of political economy from the mid-twentieth century onwards, its
origins can be traced to the development of historical capitalism. The focus of the course is on
discussing the changing dynamics of labour relations, in the historical and contemporary
contexts. Students will be provided a window of opportunity to discuss and explore the diverse
forms of work in the contemporary world.
I. Evolution, Approaches and Debates: Perspectives on capitalism and dualism;

modernisation theories and the problems of transition; Trends and patterns of
informal employment in the global economy.
II. Forms of Informal Labour: Definitions and methods in study of informal labour.
Forms of labour and their classification: wage labour, self-employment, family
labour, petty and petty commodity production etc.
III. Informal Labour in India: Methodological challenges and data sources. Patterns
of informal work and employment. Perspectives on challenges of recognition and
regulation including debates on labour market flexibility.
IV. Social Structures and Informality: Perspectives on links between social
reproduction and informality. Influence of caste, ethnicity, religion and gender in
structuring division of labour and informality.
V. Organising the Unorganised: Trade union initiatives, social movements etc.
Readings
I. Evolution, Approaches and Debates
Essential Readings
• Amiya Kumar Bagchi (1982) The Political Economy of Underdevelopment, Cambridge

University Press.
• Praveen Jha, and Paris Yeros (2021), ‘Labour Questions in the Global South: Back to
the Drawing Board’ in P Jha, L Ossome and W Chambati ed (2021) Labour Questions
in the Global South, Palgrave-Macmillan.
• Jan Breman (2023), ‘A Short History of Informality’ Global Labour Journal, January
2023.
• Paris Yeros (2023), ‘Generalised Semi Proletarianisation in Africa’ Indian Economic
Journal, January 2023.
• Aditie Surie and Ursula Huws (2023), Platformization and Informality, Palgrave
Macmillan.
Further Readings
• Samir Amin, (2000), ‘Economic Globalism or Poliical Particularism’ Journal of
World Systems Research.
• Arthur Lewis, (1954), ‘Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of

Labour’. The Manchester School.
• Breman Jan. (1976) ’A Dualistic Labour System? Critique of the “Informal Sector”
Concept’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 11, no. 50, part 1, November, pp.
1870-6; and parts 2 and 3, December, 1976, pp. 1905-8 and 1939-43.
• Keith Hart (1973), ‘Informal Income Opportunities and Urban Employment in
Ghana’ Journal of Modern African Studies, March 1973.
• Sheila Bhalla (2021), ‘From Relative Surplus Population’ and ‘Dual Labour
Markets’ to ‘Infomal’ and ‘Formal’Employment and Enterprises: Insights about
Causation and Consequences’ in in P Jha, L Ossome and W Chambati ed (2021)
Labour Questions in the Global South, Palgrave-Macmillan.
• Praveen Jha, Sam Moyo and Paris Yeros (2017), ‘Capitalism and Labour Reserves’
in C.P. Chandrasekhar and Jayati Ghosh (ed), Interpreting the World to Change it:
Essays in Honour of Prabhat Patnaik, 2917, Tulika.
II. Forms of Informal Labour
Essential Readings
• Martha Chen and Francoise Carre (2020), ‘Introduction’ in Informal Economy

Revisited: Examining the Past, Envisioning the Future, Routledge, London.
• NCEUS, (2007), Task Force on Definitional and Statistical Issues, National
Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, Government of India.
• Robert Dell’Anno (2021). ‘Theories and Definitions of Informal Economy: A
Survey’ The Economic Surveys,
• Harris-White, Barbara, (2014), ‘Labour and Petty Production’ Development and
Change, 2014.
• Erik Olin Wright (2016) ‘Is the Precariat a Class?’ Global Labour Journal, Number
2, 2016.
Further Readings
• Prabhat Patnaik (2019) ‘Capitalism, Socialism and Petty Production’ Marxist 2019.
• Ravi Kanbur (2009), ‘Conceptualising Informality: Regulation and Enforcement’
Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Number 1, 2009.
• Julieta Haidar and Maarten Keune (2021) Work and Labour Relations Under
Platform Capitalism, Edward Elgar.
• Guy Standing (2016), ‘Why Precariat is Not a Bogus Concept’ Global Labour
Journal, Number 2, 2016.
• Ben Scully (2016), ‘Precarity North and South: A Southern Critique of Guy
Standing’ Global Labour Journal, Number 2, 2016.
III. Informal Labour in India
Essential Readings
• NCEUS (2007), Report on the Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in

the Unorganised Sector, National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised
Sector, Government of India.
• K.P. Kannan (2022), ‘India’s Elusive Quest for Inclusive Development: An
Employment Perspective’ Indian Journal of Labour Economics
• Praveen Jha and Preksha Mishra (2022), ‘Persistent Vulnerabilities and the World
of Work Under Contemprorary Capitalism’ Indian Journal of Labour Economics,
July 2022.
• Praveen Jha and Archana Prasad (2020) ‘Wages of Neoliberalism: Reflections on
the World of Work in Contemporary India’ Brazilian Journal of Social and Labour
Economics, 2020.
• Premila D’Cruz and Ernesto Noronha (2019), ‘Indian Freelancers in the Platform
Economy: Problems and Prospects’ in K.R. Shyamsundar eds. (2019)
Globalisation, Labour Market Institutions, Processes and Policies in India,
Singapore: Springer.
Further Readings
• Ravi Srivastava (2020), ‘Structural Change and Increasing Precarity of

Employment in India’, in Nripendra Mishra eds. Development Challenges After
Twenty Five Years of Economic Reforms, Singapore: Springer.
• Barbara Harris White, (2020) ‘A Short History of Informality in India’ in Martha
Chen and Francoise Carre (2020), Informal Economy Revisited: Examining the
Past, Envisioning the Future, London: Routledge.
• Praveen Jha (2016), Labour in Contemporary India, Delhi: Oxford University
Press.
• Jan Breman (2020), At Work in the Informal Sector, Delhi: Oxford University Press.
• T.S. Popola and P.P. Sahu (2012), Growth and Structure of Employment in India,
Delhi: ISID Working Paper.
IV. Social Structures and Informality
Essential Readings
• Bhattacharya, Tithi eds. (2017), Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class,
Recentring Oppression, London: Pluto Press.
• Antanopolous, R and Hiraway, (ed), Unpaid Work and the Economy: Gender, Time
Use and Poverty in Developing Countries, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Neetha, N. (2020), Working in Other Peoples Homes, Delhi Tulika.
• Nilsson, M, Mazumdar, I, Neusinger, S (2022), Home-Based Work and Home-
Based Workers, 1800-2021, Leiden/Boston: Brill.
• Ghosh, Jayati (2009), Never Done and Poorly Paid: Women’s Work in Globalising
India, Delhi: Women Unlimited.
V. Organising the Unorganised
Essential Readings
• Munck, Ronaldo (2006). Globalisation and Contestations: The New Great Counter
Movement, Routledge.
• Ness, Immanuel (2015), Southern Insurgency: The Coming of the Global Working
Class, Pluto Press.
• Palriwala, R and Neetha, N (2011), ‘Care arrangements and bargains: Anganwadi
and paid domestic workers in India’, International Labour Review.
• Prasad, Archana (2022), ‘Contested Indigeneities: Adivasi Politics Historically and
in Contemporary Times, Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy, Vol 1 (1).

CI 403 Monsoon 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CI 403 Monsoon 2023

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CI 403 Monsoon 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CI 403: INFORMAL SECTOR: AN INTRODUCTION

Monsoon Semester 2023

Course Instructor: . Archana Prasad ([email protected])

I. Evolution, Approaches and Debates: Perspectives on capitalism and dualism;

I. Evolution, Approaches and Debates

• Amiya Kumar Bagchi (1982) The Political Economy of Underdevelopment, Cambridge

• Arthur Lewis, (1954), ‘Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of

II. Forms of Informal Labour

• Martha Chen and Francoise Carre (2020), ‘Introduction’ in Informal Economy

III. Informal Labour in India

• NCEUS (2007), Report on the Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in

• Ravi Srivastava (2020), ‘Structural Change and Increasing Precarity of

IV. Social Structures and Informality

V. Organising the Unorganised

You might also like