Measuring Standard of Living of Informal Workers

The informal economy accounts for a significant share of employment and economic activity across the Global South, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Despite this, informal workers are frequently excluded from national statistics, social protection frameworks, and policy considerations due to the lack of reliable data and standardized measures of their living conditions.

This webinar seeks to explore the conceptual and practical dimensions of measuring the standard of living of informal workers. It will examine existing frameworks, the limitations of traditional economic indicators (like GDP per capita or formal income levels), and discuss innovative approaches such as multidimensional poverty indices, subjective well-being surveys, and asset-based measurements.

Bringing together economists, statisticians, development practitioners, and policy advisors, the session aims to offer young economists a deeper understanding of inclusive measurement strategies that reflect the lived realities of informal workers.