The Shadow Economy as an Equilibrium Outcome

Socio-economic trajectories of Poland and Ukraine have been considerably diverging since the last decade of the 20th century. The former has been advancing and catching up with Western European countries in terms of the quality of life — whereas in Ukraine, the 1990s recession gave way to unsustainable economic growth, which interrupted in the second half of the 2000s and in the 2010s. The comparison of official statistics, along with the data of household surveys and public opinion polls, makes it possible to conclude that a progressive and sustainable transition from a command economy to free market, as exemplified by Poland, is accompanied by moderate deepening of economic inequality. However, an abnormal transition (deviating from the “Polish rule”) entails excessive concentration of wealth and gives rise to corruption as a mechanism of income redistribution among different categories of population. This also results in a more noticeable stratification of opportunies for meeting vital and existential needs. Owing to a large proportion of shadow economy and undeclared work, Ukrainians remain a source of cheap labour in both the domestic and international labour markets; in addition, a persistent subculture of tax evasion is being formed in this country.

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A Study of Determinants of Shadow Economy in Korea Focusing on Tax Burden

Korean Governmental Accounting Review ◽

10.15710/kgar.2016.14.2.105 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 105-121

Author(s):

Sunju Kwon ◽

Keyword(s):

Shadow Economy ◽

Tax Burden

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The specifics of shadow economic activity in Russia

Economic Analysis Theory and Practice ◽

10.24891/ea.19.10.1896 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 1896-1915

Author(s):

E.R. Ermakova ◽

O.M. Lizina

Keyword(s):

Economic Activity ◽

Shadow Economy ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Reproductive Process ◽

Scientific Methods ◽

Current Period ◽

Russian Economy ◽

Analysis And Synthesis ◽

The Impact

Subject. The article addresses the specifics of shadow economic activities in reformed Russia in the context of systemic transformations. Objectives. We focus on determining the role of shadow economy in the reproductive process, identifying and understanding the specifics of underground economic activity of the Russian economy. Methods. The study rests on general scientific methods (scientific abstraction, unity of historical and logical, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, comparison and analogy) and special methods of cognition (monetary methods). We employ the systems and integrated approach. The official statistics, regulations, works of leading researchers on shadow economy expansion, resources of reference and legal systems like Garant and ConsultantPlus serve as the study's information base. Results. We present a retrospective rapid analysis of the extent of shadow economic activity in the domestic economy, establishing the relationships with the processes that take place at different stages of the country's development. We also reveal the specifics of shadow economy relations in Russia, factors that play a key role in expansion for a particular period, a shift to another form of shadow economy. The study characterizes the current period of development, assesses the impact of external shocks on shadow economy expansion. Conclusions. The current period is characterized by the digitization of shadow relations, the shift of corruption to the upper echelons of power, the continued outflow of capital abroad, and increased penalties for underground activities.

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