Historicising the informal/formal dialectic: A reflection on the conceptualisation of informality versus the history of ‘informal’ economic activities

Abstract

The relationship between the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ sectors has long been a topic of academic inquiry. Brandon Finn's paper which focuses on a case study of Zambia argues for a deeper historicisation of the formal/informal inquiry. In my reflections on Finn's paper I suggest that Zambia's lack of a pre-colonial urban tradition may create some limitations on the historicisation of ‘informality’ and the discussion might usefully be pushed beyond the historical boundaries of European colonialism to consideration of urban economic activities in pre-colonial and pre-capitalist states and their urban centres.