Cover -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- List of Photos -- Acronyms -- Acknowledgements -- Summary -- Chapter One - OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY -- Nature of the study -- Framework of the study -- Data and methods -- Organisation of the book -- Chapter Two - OVERVIEW OF THE INFORMAL ECONOMY -- Informal economy in perspective -- Characteristics of the informal economy -- The informal economy and the development debate -- Which way forward for the informal economy -- Conclusion -- Chapter Three - CONTEXT OF THE STUDY -- Geographic position -- Population trends -- Socio-economic context -- Structure of the agricultural sector -- Location of Mzuzu -- Historical roots of Mzuzu -- Mzuzu's population trends past and present -- Conclusion -- Chapter Four - URBANISATION IN MALAWI -- Urban development in Malawi -- Characteristics of urbanisation in Malawi -- Conclusion -- Chapter Five - THE URBAN INFORMAL ECONOMY IN MALAWI -- Magnitude and characteristics of the informal economy in Malawi -- Rural-urban differences in informal economy activities -- Factors that have shaped the structure and evolution of the informal economy -- Conclusion -- Chapter Six - INFORMALITY OF BICYCLE TAXIS AND HANDCARTS -- Urbanisation and transportation -- Overview of transportation in Mzuzu -- Bicycle taxis and handcarts or wheelbarrows in Mzuzu -- Opportunities for operators and organisation of operations -- Challenges faced by the operators -- Overcoming the challenges -- Conclusion -- Chapter Seven - SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE OPERATORS -- Rural roots and transitory stay in the city -- Socio-demographic characteristics of the operators -- Dynamics of residence in Mzuzu -- Conclusion -- Chapter Eight - ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE OPERATORS -- Employment and unemployment.

Length of involvement in bicycle taxi and handcart business -- Motives for engaging in bicycle taxi and handcart business -- Perceptions of and satisfaction with income levels from respective activities -- Straddling the formal/informal divide -- Patronage of bicycle taxis and handcarts -- Conclusion -- Chapter Nine - APPROPRIATING URBANISATION THROUGH SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFORMALITY -- Informality as a way of life -- Significance of bicycle taxi and handcart or wheelbarrow operations -- Conclusion -- Chapter Ten - REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUDING DISCUSSIONS -- Reflections on socio-economic informality -- Future directions -- Bibliography -- Back cover.