The Informal Business Sector in BRICS+ Countries Sustainable Economic Development in the Global South

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Contributors

Preface

Brian Ngwako Mokgatetswa Mahosi, Fulufhelo Godfrey Netswera, Ayanda Sibiya, Elton Fernandes, Sergei Smirnov, and Shen Yi

Introduction

Brian Ngwako Mokgatetswa Mahosi, Fulufhelo Godfrey Netswera, Ayanda Sibiya, Elton Fernandes, Sergei Smirnov, and Shen Yi

Summary of the Chapters

Part I Conceptual, Theoretical, and Policy Foundations

1 The Role and Impact of Informal Traders in the Economic Development of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa

Zuziwe Mpanza and Brian Ngwako Mokgatetswa Mahosi

2 Contested Meanings of Informality: Rethinking Industrial Policy and Empowerment Strategies for the Informal Sector in South Africa

Lufefe Benbella Sopazi

3 A Review of the Current Spatial Planning Policies in Rural South Africa and the BRICS Global South for Ensuring Sustainable Economic Development: The Case of the Informal Sector at Hopewell Settlement Under Richmond Municipality, KZN

Tobela Twala

4 The Informal Sector of the Brazilian Economy: Characterization and Causality Analysis

Clemente Leonel, Clemente Artur Kendi, Clemente Ademir, and Claudio Marcelo

Part II Country and Regional Perspectives on Informality

5 Does Informality Slow Down the Attainment of Sustainable Development? New Empirical Evidence From Sub-Saharan African Countries

Emmanuel Umoru Haruna

6 Success and Failure of SMEs in China and South Africa: A Systematic Review

Edward Malatse Rankhumise and Portia Mahwibi Tladi

7 Informality in Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities Emerging From a Heterogeneous Space

Dias Rafael

8 Informal Business in Russia: Present, Challenges, and Potential

Sergei Smirnov, Trapeznikova Irina, Ilina Janna, and Evnevich Maria

9 Is the Virtual Gig Economy a Pathway to Formalization or a Reinforcement of Informality? Exploring the Informal Sector in India

Ankit Suri and Yogesh Sharma

10 Resilience of Disabled Entrepreneurs in Ghana’s Informal Sector

Christopher Boafo, Irene Okanta, and Utz Dornberger

Part III Technology, Innovation, and Informal Economy Transformation

11 Navigating Regulatory Challenges Within Paratransit Operations in Africa: Balancing Safety and Socio-economic Equity

Siyabulela Fobosi, Gcina Malandela, and Yonela Toshe-Mlambo

12 Frugal Innovation as a Tool for Competitive Advantage in the Informal Business Sector: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective

Ayanda Sibiya and Phumuza Langa

13 The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Innovation Systems in South Africa’s Informal Business Sector Digital Landscape

Pikolomzi Qaba

Index

Biography

Brian Ngwako Mokgatetswa Mahosi is a lecturer specializing in Entrepreneurship and currently serving as the section head for Entrepreneurship in the Department of Applied Management at the University of South Africa, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Economic Management Sciences with Business Administration from North-West University, and an MTech in Entrepreneurship from Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa. His research focus area is entrepreneurship, specifically the informal sector.

Fulufhelo Godfrey Netswera is a full professor and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Venda, and previously served as the Executive Dean Faculty of Management Sciences at Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa. He is tasked to develop the DUT Business School. Historically, he was the Director of the North-West University Business School, USA; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, USA; Director of South African BRICS Think Tank at the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, India; Director of the Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership at the University of Limpopo, South Africa; and Research Management Director at University of South Africa, South Africa.

Ayanda Sibiya is a senior lecturer in the Department of Business Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 15 years of experience in the educational arena.

Elton Fernandes is a full professor of the Production Engineering and Transport Engineering programmes at the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Postgraduate Studies and Engineering Research, a unit of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Sergei Smirnov is an associate professor of the Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Economics, Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. He received his PhD from the same university in 2005.

Shen Yi is a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, China. He also serves as Director of the Centre for BRICS Studies and the International Research Institute of Global Cyberspace Governance.