Technology in the Margins: Exploring the Dynamic Interplay between; Aglaya Batz Lineiro (Universidad del Rosario)

Technology's impact on communities, economies, and the world has received considerable attention from scholars, particularly regarding its role in driving economic development. However, technological advancements have also influenced and, in some cases, exacerbated economic and social phenomena, such as informality. Despite this, the intricate relationship between informality and technology remains unexplored. Thus, this research aims to address two key questions: (1) What has been the historical and contemporary connection between Technology and Informality? And (2) How has technology been utilized and adopted within the complex landscape of informality? A co-word analysis of 445 peer-reviewed documents obtained from Scopus reveals seven clusters that elucidate the relationship between technology and informality. The findings highlight the transformative influence of smartphones and geographic information systems as pivotal technologies that have reshaped the living, communication, transportation, and business practices of informal workers. Furthermore, a domain analysis of 137 case studies, reveals that technology is primarily benefiting populations beyond informal workers or residents of informal settlements. Finally, three main challenges arise from the use of technology, namely: (1) addressing public policy concerns; (2) developing the necessary skills to harness technology's potential; and (3) leveraging technology as a means for formalization.