The Demand for, and Consequences of, Formalization among Informal Firms in Sri Lanka
Suresh de Mel; David McKenzie; Christopher Woodruff · 2013 · American Economic Journal Applied Economics
WASTE classifies this as Negative / Null Result Report · AI classification, approximate
The study found no significant effect — useful as a negative control or null benchmark for your own design.
Abstract
A field experiment in Sri Lanka provides informal firms incentives to formalize. Information about the registration process and reimbursement of direct costs does not increase registration. Payments equivalent to one-half to one month (alternatively, two months) of the median firm's profits leads to registration of around one-fifth (alternatively, one-half) of firms. Land ownership issues are the most common reason for not registering. Follow-up surveys 15 to 31 months later show higher mean profits, but largely in a few firms that grew rapidly. We find little evidence for other changes in beh
Abstract by Suresh de Mel; David McKenzie; Christopher Woodruff, American Economic Journal Applied Economics (2013) — licensed CC BY 4.0.
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Metadata source: OpenAlex · DOI 10.1257/app.5.2.122