Keeping the State Weak

Economic Informality and the Weak-State Trap in Sub-Saharan Africa

By: Jessica Gottlieb

Write A Review

Hardcover | 3 September 2026

At a Glance

Hardcover
252 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.75

Hardcover

RRP $189.95

$167.99

12%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $42.00 with

Ships in 15 to 25 business days

Even if a state is democratic, it will fail its citizens if it cannot raise sufficient revenue or distribute public goods effectively. Keeping the State Weak points to widespread economic informality as a key feature that keeps poor democracies unstable. Jessica Gottlieb traces the colonial roots of this pernicious type of embedded informality and theorizes how it impacts both state citizens and state actors. Quantitative and qualitative evidence shows how widespread informality prevents a would-be middle class from coordinating programmatic claims on the state and how informal intermediaries who benefit from their status resist attempts at formal state-building. The book concludes with a sobering perspective on the potential for formalization campaigns to initiate socio-political transitions and more optimistic suggestions for where a programmatic transition might originate.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.