(Advanced) System 'D' - the power of the informal economy.

Robert Neuwirth spent four years among the chaotic stalls of street markets, talking to pushcart hawkers and gray marketers, to study the remarkable "System D," the world's unlicensed economic network. Responsible for some 1.8 billion jobs, it's an economy of underappreciated power and scope.

Section 1 

0:00 - 3:00

Before listening can match these?

According to Robert...

What is System D? 

What is business synergy? 

What was the global business – why?   

What is a business incubator? 

What is the Aleph?

A business that sells imported fish

The informal economy

A boat building business

An open air market

A dump

What is the informal economy?   Why is it not a black market?

What do you think the opposite of “aboveboard” would be?    

What does “débrouillardise” mean?  

Listen and check.

Discuss:

Why do you think governments hate the DIY economy? Why do you think they closed down the street market?

Section 2

3:00 - 6:30

What is a pickle problem?

What is the pickle economy?

Why is the informal economy more important according to Robert?

What are "high frequency stores" – what makes this market segment especially important?

Section 3

6:30

Which country is the “big dog” in Africa?

What is "air time"? 

What does the term "second hand" usually mean in China?

What do companies like Nike secretly use as “market research”?

Why do they track piracy?

Section 4

10:00 - End

Why does Robert think we shouldn't blame the little guy when it comes to tax avoidance?

Discuss the quotes. 

What are the ideas behind them?