Using data on more than 100 emerging nations, this paper considers the impact of informal competition on the performance of formal sector firms. Unique aspects include comparing the effects on input performance (via total factor productivity [TFP]) with those on output performance (via sales per worker). Grounding the empirical analysis in the theory of vertical integration into research, results show informal competition to undermine firms' performance. Furthermore, technology outsourcing, rather than in-house innovation, appears to be effective in boosting performance for firms facing underground competition. Finally, the performance impact of informal competition is sensitive to the existing level of performance.

中文翻译：

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非正式竞争和企业绩效：对投入与产出绩效的影响

本文使用 100 多个新兴国家的数据，考虑了非正规竞争对正规部门公司业绩的影响。独特的方面包括比较对投入绩效的影响（通过全要素生产率 [TFP]）与对产出绩效的影响（通过每个工人的销售额）。将纵向整合理论中的实证分析纳入研究，结果表明非正式竞争会破坏公司的绩效。此外，技术外包，而不是内部创新，似乎可以有效地提高面临地下竞争的公司的业绩。最后，非正式竞争对绩效的影响对现有绩效水平很敏感。