SME Registration: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh the majority of firms are informal and as such might not have access to prime markets

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2013
Country:
Bangladesh
Document Type:
Research Paper
Theme:
Economic Growth
Authors:
Rahman, A., de Giorgi, G.

Abstract

Informality is pervasive in developing countries. In Bangladesh, the majority of firms are informal and as such they might not have access to prime markets, while lowering the tax base. The authors implemented an information campaign on registration, including both the step-by-step procedures and the potential benefits from registration. They find that the treatment made firms more aware of the procedures, but had no impact on actual registration. The results point toward potentially low benefits and high indirect costs of registration as the main barriers to formality (e.g. access to markets, taxation, labor and product regulations).

Citation

De Giorgi, G.; Rahman, A. SME Registration: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh. International Finance Corporation, World Bank, (2013) 14 pp. [Policy Research Working Paper 6382]

SME Registration: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh

Published 1 January 2013
Contents