KasiNomics: The Vast Scale of the “Informal Economy”

GG Alcock (author & entrepreneur) makes the case that South Africa’s “informal” economy is vast, sophisticated and largely uncounted, spanning spaza retail (~R190bn), taverns, kasi food, salons, taxis, backroom rentals, and informal construction and mechanics. He argued that official statistics dramatically understate township and rural economic activity and employment, and calls for the sector to be recognised, respected and scaled up rather than dismissed as marginal. Presented at the 2026 Public Economics Conference.