Definitional Paradox and Legal Heterogeneity: Towards a Comprehensive and Operational Definition of Begging

This paper contributes to the quest for an operational definition of begging. Researchers and policy makers examining begging suffer from definitional shortcomings. Social scientists generally provide a minimalistic and paradoxical definition of begging. Begging is indeed, simultaneously considered as a productive activity and as a non‐reciprocated gift. Among law and policy makers, there is no consensus on a definition of begging. Begging can be defined broadly or narrowly, it can be considered as acceptable or be criminalized. In order to illustrate the need for an operational definition, the legal definitions of begging enacted in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines are compared. Major theoretical definitions of begging are also reviewed. We then suggest an operational definition of begging in which we distinguish between begging policies, begging strategies and begging techniques.