Question 1

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'informal work' as discussed in the context of gender and development in the Global South?

Accepted Answer

Employment that is unregulated, lacks social protections, and is often invisible but essential to the economy.

Question 2

According to the study materials, why is women’s informal work often undervalued in policy and economic theory?

Accepted Answer

Because it intersects with unpaid social reproduction, such as caregiving and domestic labor, which are traditionally undervalued.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of informal employment for women in the Global South?

Accepted Answer

High job security and access to pensions.

Question 4

In the context of Ghana, what is a major reason why formalization efforts have had limited impact on women’s informal work?

Accepted Answer

Most formalization efforts focus on enterprise registration rather than improving working conditions or protections for workers.

Question 5

Which trajectory describes the shift from informal to formal employment as economies develop, according to the classical Kuznets-Lewis model?

Accepted Answer

Classical trajectory: rapid industrialization leads to movement from rural informal labor to urban formal jobs.

Question 6

A street food vendor in an unregistered shop who owns her vehicle is best classified as:

Accepted Answer

An informal worker operating in an informal enterprise.

Question 7

Which of the following equations best represents the proportion of informal workers in Ghana’s workforce, given that around 90% are informal?

Accepted Answer

$$P_{informal} = \frac{N_{informal}}{N_{total}} \approx 0.9$$

Question 8

Which of the following is a potential unintended consequence of extending social protections (such as maternity leave or pensions) to informal workers, as discussed in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Employers may reduce hiring of women due to increased costs.

Question 9

In the case study of commercial surrogacy in India, which factor most contributes to the vulnerability of surrogates?

Accepted Answer

Power imbalances with clinics and intermediaries limit surrogates’ autonomy.

Question 10

Which policy approach is considered most effective for empowering women in informal work, according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing and protecting informal reproductive labor through legal and social interventions.

Question 11

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'false formalization' in Ghana’s agricultural sector?

Accepted Answer

Linking small farmers to agribusinesses without improving wages or working conditions.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a strategy governments can use to formalize informal work, as described in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Ignore informal work and avoid any intervention.

Question 13

Why might formalization policies sometimes harm women-run businesses more than help them?

Accepted Answer

Women-run businesses often face higher costs, fewer benefits, and less access to credit and assets.

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why informal work is described as 'invisible but essential' in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

It sustains households, communities, and economies, but is often unrecognized and unprotected.

Question 15

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates the intersection of informal work and unpaid social reproduction?

Accepted Answer

A woman working as a paid domestic worker who also cares for her own children without pay.

Question 16

Which of the following is a plausible outcome of banning commercial surrogacy, according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

It may push the industry underground or abroad, increasing vulnerability and exploitation.

Question 17

Which formula would you use to calculate the employment participation rate for women in Ghana, given the number of employed women $$N_{employed}$$ and the total number of women in the labor force $$N_{labor}$$?

Accepted Answer

$$Participation_{women} = \frac{N_{employed}}{N_{labor}}$$

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of intermediaries in India’s commercial surrogacy market?

Accepted Answer

They facilitate contracts and recruitment, often limiting surrogates’ autonomy and bargaining power.

Question 19

Which of the following is a key takeaway from the study materials regarding gender and informal work?

Accepted Answer

Gender shapes both participation in informal work and the outcomes of formalization policies.

Week 5 : Informal Work

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards