What is Shadow Entrepreneurship?
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Shadow entrepreneurs manage a business that sells legitimate goods and services but does not register their businesses.
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They do not pay tax, operating in a shadow economy where business activities are performed outside the reach of government authorities.
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Reason for the rise: Due to supply-demand shock amidst pandemic, they have replaced traditional services by offering technology-mediated service, leading to the redistribution of old consumers and benefiting from new consumers.
Recent Rise: There has been a global rise of shadow entrepreneurship in sectors like education (private coaching), finance (for easy loans), the betting economy (online games) and healthcare (e-pharmacies).
Associated concerns with shadow entrepreneurship:
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Higher market power for early movers: due to the initial spike in demand and ensuing lock-in effects, resulting in price-setting effects and acquisition of small firms by large firms.
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Cross-border and national security implications: E.g. shady loans being provided by Chinese instant loan providers online.
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Could lead to harassment: as is happening with harassment in Indian telemedicine platforms.
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Complimentary service providers extract money from consumers by taking advantage of post-pandemic market constraints.
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Way Forward:
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Strong monitoring of quality: complimented with non-compliance being punishable with a jail term, clamping down on services and related strict consequences.
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Harmonization between authorities of governments: In India’s case, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in regulating shadow entrepreneurship and government departments in healthcare, education or finance.