WIEGO Research Library

WIEGO is at the forefront of developing statistics and research to help audiences understand the informal economy. Our research approach is collaborative and action-oriented – conducted with and for workers and their organizations.

Our library includes over two decades-worth of informal economy research, policy analysis, statistics and documentation of organizing efforts.

Latest Publications

Project ReportsApril 2, 2026

Boletim Clima & Catadores n° 6

By WIEGO

Project ReportsApril 2, 2026

Climate & Waste Pickers Bulletin, issue nº 6

By WIEGO

Assessing Nigeria’s Micro Pension Plan from the Perspective of Self-Employed Workers: Evidence and Policy Implications

By International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON), African Labour Research and Education Institute (ALREI), WIEGO

Statistical BriefsMarch 20, 2026

Employment in Thailand, 2019‑2024: Crisis, Recovery and Informality

By Sasiwimon Warunsiri Paweenawat, Jessica Vechbanyongratana

City/Country Level ReportsMarch 9, 2026

Direitos das pessoas comerciantes no espaço público: O caso da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

By Daniel S. Mayor Fabre

Technical BriefsFebruary 19, 2026

Mitigating from the Margins: Waste Picker Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Ed Cook, Taylor Cass Talbott, International Alliance of Waste Pickers

Policy BriefsFebruary 12, 2026

Working in the Heat: Street Vendors and Climate Justice in Delhi, India

By Shalini Sinha, Aravind Unni, Rituraj Pegu, Marcela Valdivia

Annual ReportsJanuary 9, 2026

2024-2025 WIEGO Annual Report

By WIEGO

Books & Book ChaptersOctober 27, 2025

Busting Myths and Exploring Fairer Ways to Finance Social Protection for Workers in Informal Employment

By Florian Juergens-Grant

Research ReportsOctober 27, 2025

Women-Led Climate Resilient Futures: Solutions from Mahila Housing Trust

By Mahila Housing SEWA Trust, City Collab, WIEGO

WIEGO Publications Series

Working Papers

WIEGO Working Papers are academic papers that contribute to the informal economy knowledge base.

See all Working Papers(this link opens in new window)

WIEGO Briefs

WIEGO Briefs aim to provide user-friendly documentation for those involved in advocacy, policy and research on the informal economy. There are six types, each with a different focus:

Resource Documents

Resource Documents include WIEGO-generated literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, and papers reflecting the findings from new empirical work. They provide detail to support advocacy, policy or research on specific issues.

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Essential Readings

Looking to improve your understanding of the informal economy? This curated selection of publications outlines basic informal economy concepts, the latest informal employment statistics and other essential thematic readings.

Publication

The Informal Economy Revisited: Examining the Past, Envisioning the Future

By Martha Alter Chen, Françoise Carré

Publication

Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Brief

By Florence Bonnet, Joann Vanek, Martha Alter Chen

Publication

Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South

By Laura Alfers, Martha Alter Chen, Sophie Plagerson

Publication

COVID-19 and the Informal Economy: Impact, Recovery and the Future

By Martha Alter Chen, Michael Rogan, Kunal Sen

Publication

The Informal Economy: Definitions, Theories and Policies

By Martha Alter Chen

Publication

Does Social Protection Cause Informality? A Critical Review of the Literature on the Relationship between Social Protection, Formal and Informal Employment

By Mónica Orozco Corona, Roberto Vélez-Grajales

Publication

Mitigating from the Margins: Waste Picker Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Ed Cook, Taylor Cass Talbott, International Alliance of Waste Pickers

Publication

Climate Change and Heat Stress: Impacts on Home-Based Workers and Street Vendors in Bangkok, Thailand

By Marcela Valdivia, Ana Carolina Ogando, Poonsap Suanmuang Tulaphan, Nanthorn Silpavuthi, Thrissanat Phansawat, Chaporn Chulindra

Publication

The taxed informal economy: Fiscal burdens and inequality in Accra

By Nana Akua Anyidoho, Max Gallien, Michael Rogan, Vanessa van den Boogaard

WIEGO Research Library

Latest Publications

Boletim Clima & Catadores n° 6

Climate & Waste Pickers Bulletin, issue nº 6

Assessing Nigeria’s Micro Pension Plan from the Perspective of Self-Employed Workers: Evidence and Policy Implications

Employment in Thailand, 2019‑2024: Crisis, Recovery and Informality

Direitos das pessoas comerciantes no espaço público: O caso da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

Mitigating from the Margins: Waste Picker Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Working in the Heat: Street Vendors and Climate Justice in Delhi, India

2024-2025 WIEGO Annual Report

Busting Myths and Exploring Fairer Ways to Finance Social Protection for Workers in Informal Employment

Women-Led Climate Resilient Futures: Solutions from Mahila Housing Trust

WIEGO Publications Series

Working Papers

WIEGO Briefs

Resource Documents

Essential Readings

The Informal Economy Revisited: Examining the Past, Envisioning the Future

Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Brief

Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South

COVID-19 and the Informal Economy: Impact, Recovery and the Future

The Informal Economy: Definitions, Theories and Policies

Does Social Protection Cause Informality? A Critical Review of the Literature on the Relationship between Social Protection, Formal and Informal Employment

Mitigating from the Margins: Waste Picker Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Climate Change and Heat Stress: Impacts on Home-Based Workers and Street Vendors in Bangkok, Thailand

The taxed informal economy: Fiscal burdens and inequality in Accra

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