Corruption and Informality: Complements or Substitutes? Qualitative Evidence from Barranquilla, Colombia

20 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2014

See all articles by Maxie-Lina Mehling

Maxie-Lina Mehling

University of Passau

Frédéric Boehm

Universidad Autónoma del Caribe

Date Written: March 26, 2014

Abstract

We present results of a qualitative study based on interviews with informal vendors and experts on informality carried out in Barranquilla, Colombia, in order to investigate whether corruption and informality are complements or substitutes. It was found that it is necessary to distinguish between bureaucratic and political corruption when examining the relation with informality, as the results can be opposite. In Barranquilla, bureaucratic corruption and informality seem to be substitutes, while political corruption and informality complement each other.

Keywords: Informality, Corruption, Colombia

JEL Classification: 017, K42

Suggested Citation

Mehling, Maxie-Lina and Boehm, Frédéric, Corruption and Informality: Complements or Substitutes? Qualitative Evidence from Barranquilla, Colombia (March 26, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2416317 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2416317

Maxie-Lina Mehling

University of Passau ( email )

Innstrasse 27
Passau, 94032
Germany

Frédéric Boehm (Contact Author)

Universidad Autónoma del Caribe ( email )

Street 90
Barranquilla
Colombia

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