Robert Neuwirth, concerned about self-governed communities and their economy, shares his experience of working and living among them. His research method led him to experiment from within, the very own hospitality and entrepreneurial thrive of those referred to as merchants of informal economy.

In an effort of taking away the negative connotation of the phrase “informal economy”, he explains why he addresses them as members of System D and elaborates on the French background of the term. Neuwirth also relates the anecdote of how he came upon a fitting description of their activities as “businesses that exist solely on their own effort with no help from the government”. He concludes by commenting on three astonishing life-lessons learned while carrying out his investigation.