Why it's wrong
Suggests economic activity is peripheral, unstructured, or illegitimate. It minimises the scale, organisation, and centrality of these activities to livelihoods and national economies.
What's actually true
The ILO estimates that nearly 83% of employment in Africa is informal, making it the dominant form of economic participation. The African Development Bank notes that small and micro-enterprises contribute over 50% of GDP in several African countries.
Don't say · Say instead
Don't say
“Most Africans work in the informal economy.”
Say instead
“Most Africans work in the majority economy.”
Shorthand: Majority economy
Sources
- 01.ilo.org