Informal Economies in Post-Socialist Spaces : Practices, Institutions and Networks

Informed by in-depth case studies focusing on a wide spectrum of micro and macro post-socialist realities from Lithuania to Kosovo, from Ukraine to China, this volume demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of informality and suggests that it is a widely diffused phenomenon, used at all levels of a society and by both winners and losers of post-socialist transition. In particular, by critically engaging with concepts such as bribery, nepotism and illegal transactions in general, the collection suggests that informality has a systemic reality not only at the micro but also, and more importantly, at the macro level. In an attempt to move beyond functionalist or structuralist perspectives, the authors propose that informality at the macro scale is an alternative way of responding to policy-making and that its reality must inform policy decisions.--Publisher description Introduction: my name is legion : the resilience and endurance of informality beyond, or in spite of, the states / Abel Polese and Jeremy Morris Thinking informality and development writ large and small Evaluating the validity of the contrasting theoretical perspectives towards the informal economy in Ukraine / Colin Williams and Olga Onoschenko Institutional transformation and informality in Azerbaijan and Georgia / Huseyn Aliyev Fighting the shadows Lithuania's informal workers and the financial crisis / Ida Harboe Knudsen Formal crutches for broken sociality / Aet Annist Re-theorising informality : power, culture, kinship and history Field notes on informality's culture of ubiquity : recognition and symbolic power within informal economic practices in Kosovo / Anna Danielsson The importance of having tela : reproduction of informality in the democratization sector in Bosnia / Karla Koutkova Perception vs. practices : nepotism in small businesses in Bulgaria / Tanya Chavdarova The importance of personalized relationships in postsocialist rural Bulgaria : informality and the socioeconomic success of capitalist agricultural entrepreneurs / Christian Giordano Informal public sectors and welfare : state intervention or withdrawal? Informal payments for healthcare services in Lithuania and Ukraine / Tetiana Stepurko, Milena Pavlova, Irena Gryga, Liubove Murauskiene, Wim Groot Nuclear borders : informally negotiating the Chernobyl exclusion zone / Thom Davies Governing informal payments in healthcare : lessons from China / Jingqing Yang Informal economic practices within the Kyrgyz police (militsiia) / Liam OShea. "Cover"--"Contents"--"List of Tables and Figures" -- "Acknowledgements" -- "Notes on Contributors" -- "Introduction: My Name Is Legion. The Resilience and Endurance of Informality beyond, or in spite of, the State" -- "Part I: Thinking Informality and Development Writ Large and Small" -- "1 Evaluating the Validity of the Contrasting Theoretical Perspectives towards the Informal Economy in Ukraine" -- "2 Institutional Transformation and Informality in Azerbaijan and Georgia" -- "3 Fighting the Shadows: Lithuaniaâ#x80;#x99;s Informal Workers and the Financial Crisis" -- "4 Formal Crutches for Broken Sociality" -- "Part II: Retheorizing Informality: Power, Culture, Kinship and History" -- "5 Field Notes on Informalityâ#x80;#x99;s Culture of Ubiquity: Recognition and Symbolic Power within Informal Economic Practices in Kosovo" -- "6 The Importance of Having?tela: Reproduction of Informality in the Democratization Sector in Bosnia" -- "7 Perceptions vs. Practices: Nepotism in Small Businesses in Bulgaria" -- "8 The Importance of Personalized Relationships in Post-Socialist Rural Bulgaria: Informality of New Capitalist Entrepreneurs" -- "Part III: Informal Public Sectors and Welfare: State Intervention or Withdrawal?" -- "9 Informal Payments for Healthcare Services in Lithuania and Ukraine" -- "10 Nuclear Borders: Informally Negotiating the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone" -- "11 Governing Informal Payments in Healthcare: Lessons from China" -- "12 Informal Economic Practices within the Kyrgyz Police (militsiia)" -- "Conclusion: Agency Strikes Back? Quo Vadis Informality?" Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-21 Front Matter....Pages 23-23 Evaluating the Validity of the Contrasting Theoretical Perspectives towards the Informal Economy in Ukraine....Pages 25-50 Institutional Transformation and Informality in Azerbaijan and Georgia....Pages 51-69 Fighting the Shadows: Lithuania’s Informal Workers and the Financial Crisis....Pages 70-94 Formal Crutches for Broken Sociality....Pages 95-113 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 Field Notes on Informality’s Culture of Ubiquity: Recognition and Symbolic Power within Informal Economic Practices in Kosovo....Pages 117-138 The Importance of Having štela: Reproduction of Informality in the Democratization Sector in Bosnia....Pages 139-153 Perceptions vs. Practices: Nepotism in Small Businesses in Bulgaria....Pages 154-174 The Importance of Personalized Relationships in Post-Socialist Rural Bulgaria: Informality of New Capitalist Entrepreneurs....Pages 175-192 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 Informal Payments for Healthcare Services in Lithuania and Ukraine....Pages 195-224 Nuclear Borders: Informally Negotiating the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone....Pages 225-244 Governing Informal Payments in Healthcare: Lessons from China....Pages 245-269 Informal Economic Practices within the Kyrgyz Police (militsiia)....Pages 270-293 Conclusion....Pages 294-299 Back Matter....Pages 300-302 Informed by in-depth case studies focusing on a wide spectrum of micro and macro post-socialist realities, this book demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of informality and suggests that it is a widely diffused phenomenon, used at all levels of a society and by both winners and losers of post-socialist transition.