International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

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The Informal Sector and Social Policy

The International Journal of Sociology and Social Planning anticipates the publication of a number of special editions devoted to the informal sector and social policy issues. We want to focus these editions on specific issues and world regions where the informal sector has particular significance for changes in the economic and political structure of society. In general, we are looking for research papers from a sociological or related perspective that deal with different aspects of the role of the informal sector in a rapidly changing world, with an emphasis on social policy issues. We are also interested in essays from "practitioners" (development officials, project staff, or leaders of organizations that operate on behalf of informal enterprises) that recount their own experiences dealing with these issues.

Specific Topics:

We currently anticipate four editions, although the exact number and order will be determined by the number of high-quality papers submitted. The editions are tentatively titled as follows:

• "The Politics of the Informal Sector": This issue will focus on conflicts between street vendors, informal transport operators, informal housing groups, informal workshops, etc., and other interest groups, including formal businesses and city officials. It could include analyses of particular struggles and movements, policy planning initiatives and their results, or attempts to contain or promote the informal sector.
• "Informal Transportation and the Development of the City": This issue will focus on informal transport systems (unregulated or semi-regulated collective taxi systems or inter-urban transport systems) and their role in the development of urban space by allowing the development of informal and lower-income residential neighborhoods and allowing for new commercial uses to emerge.
• "The Informal Sector and the Transition to Post-Apartheid Society": This issue will focus on the experience of South Africa in which the repression of the African economic community under apartheid has led to an explosion of the informal sector in the post-apartheid era. While this is seen as a blessing by some, it also brings with it many concerns and problems to be resolved.
• "The Informal Sector and the Transition to a Post-Communist Society": This issue will focus on the experience of post-communist societies in Eastern Europe and Asia. In many cases, the old "second" economy that existed under communism has exploded into a massive "informal" sector as state-run businesses have been only partially replaced by a problematic formal business sector. Some see the informal sector as a sign of progress, but many also see it as an area of corruption and lawlessness.

Requirements:

Research papers should be from 20-25 double-spaced pages long, including bibliography, endnotes and any charts or figures. Essays should be from 5-10 pages long. We also welcome book reviews and research notes, which should be 1-2 pages. Authors are asked to follow standard ASA formatting in both the text and citations. When submitting your paper, please indicate which issue you believe is most appropriate for your paper. If your paper could fit under two or more issues, please indicate your second preference and so on. While we began the review process in September 2000, we will continue to accept papers until we have finished the series.

Papers that focus on the intersection of stratification along the lines of gender, ethnicity, race and/or class with the above issues are particularly encouraged.

We prefer to receive papers submitted as email attachments. These can be sent to cross@vassar.edu. If you are unable to do this, submit three hard copies of all papers and a copy on computer disk (preferable Microsoft Word) to the following address:

Dr. John C. Cross
Department of Sociology
Vassar College
124 Raymond Avenue
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12604

If you have any questions, or wish to see whether a specific paper theme is appropriate, please contact Dr. Cross by email at cross@vassar.edu or at the above address.