Evaluation of the consequences of the pandemic crisis on the informal sector in Morocco: Case of the commercial sector in Casablanca

Abstract

The pandemic crisis related to Covid-19 quickly transformed into a global economic crisis with repercussions that vary from one country to another. Morocco was not spared from this global economic shock, primarily caused by the adoption of strict lockdown measures, which resulted in both supply and demand shocks and a severe economic recession. The objective of this article is an attempt to evaluate the impact of this crisis on the informal commercial sector in the city of Casablanca, based on a field study focused on traders operating in the informal sector in Casablanca through a simple and concise questionnaire designed on Google Forms, with results processed using descriptive analysis in SPSS. The findings of this survey conducted among 217 traders from the informal sector in this city show a decrease in income of up to more than 40% for the majority of traders. Additionally, there was an increase in expenses, primarily linked to the cessation of activities and solidarity with employees who were not laid off. Furthermore, the State’s response was noted but was not sufficient to overcome the repercussions of an arduous crisis that, for some, persists to this day. The majority confirmed that they benefited from State aid during the confinement period, with a slight gender nuance ; women were somewhat disadvantaged in this operation for various reasons.

Classification JEL : E26, F61

Paper type: Empirical Research