This paper analyzes the efficiency of informal public transport networks in the Global South, comparing them to formal systems in the Global North. Using data from over 7000 bus routes in 36 cities across 22 countries, the study finds that informal transport self-organizes efficiently, exhibiting fewer detours, more uniform paths, and comparable interconnectivity to formal systems, all without significant subsidies. This challenges the perception of informal transport as inferior and suggests potential for more sustainable and accessible public transport solutions.

Kush Mohan Mittal, Marc Timme, Malte Schröder