The Hidden Enterprise Culture: Entrepreneurship in the Underground EconomyEdward Elgar, 2006 - 263 pages Portraying how entrepreneurs often start out conducting some or all of their trade on an 'off-the-books' basis and how many continue to do so once they become established, this book provides the first detailed account of the vast and ubiquitous hidden enterprise culture existing in the interstices of western economies. Until now, the role of the underground economy in enterprise creation, entrepreneurship and small business development has been largely ignored despite its widespread prevalence and importance. In contrast to much of the previous literature that views the underground economy as low-paid, exploitative sweatshop work that should be deterred, this book takes a fresh, more positive perspective that considers the underground economy as a hidden enterprise culture. Colin C. Williams prescribes the means by which western governments can best harness this hidden culture of enterprise. He outlines detailed policy initiatives that seek to assist business ventures in setting up on a formal footing, and aim to encourage underground enterprises and entrepreneurs to make the transition into the realm of legitimacy. This book provides a lucid guide as to how the hidden culture of enterprise can be brought into the open. As such, it will prove invaluable to a wide-ranging audience including scholars and students of business studies, entrepreneurship, management, economics and regional science. |
From inside the book
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... employed workers Although some of these self - employed people are wholly underground , most are either in formal employment and conducting self - employed off - the - books work on a relatively continuous basis , or registered self ...
... employed intimates that if these ventures persist , many of their founders become formally self - employed rather than continue to work as an employee or claim benefits . Indeed , a number of the individual case studies below ...
... employed kitchen fitters , plumbers , electricians and plasterers all on an off - the - books basis . He made his ... employed on a cash - in - hand basis by a taxi company but due to a dislike of the owner had decided to start ...