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The Size and Development of the Shadow Economies of 22 Transition and 21 OECD Countries

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Author Info
Schneider, Friedrich () (University of Linz and IZA Bonn)

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Abstract

Using the currency demand and DYMIMIC approaches estimates are presented about the size of the shadow economy in 22 Transition and 21 OECD countries. Over 2001/2002 in 21 OECD countries is the average size of the shadow economy (in percent of official GDP) 16.7% of "official" GDP and of 22 Transition countries 38.0%. The average size of the shadow economy labor force (in percent of the population of working age) of the year 1998/99 in 7 OECD-countries is 15.3% and in 22 Transition countries is 30.2%. An increasing burden of taxation and social security contributions combined with rising state regulatory activities are the driving forces for the growth and size of the shadow economy (labor force).

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 514.

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Length: 51 pages
Date of creation: Jun 2002
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp514

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Related research
Keywords: shadow economy; transition economies; tax and social security burden; government regulation;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
O17 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
O5 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies
D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy-Making and Implementation
H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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    Other versions:
  4. Edgar L. Feige, 2005. "The Underground Economy And The Currency Enigma," Macroeconomics 0502004, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
  5. Friedrich Schneider, 2001. "Arbeit im Schatten: Einige theoretische und empirische Überlegungen Ïber die Schattenwirtschaft," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 2(4), pages 425-439, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  16. Phillip Cagan, 1958. "The Demand for Currency Relative to the Total Money Supply," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66, pages 303. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Elöd Takáts & Tamás K. Papp, 2008. "Tax Rate Cuts and Tax Compliance--The Laffer Curve Revisited," IMF Working Papers 08/7, International Monetary Fund. [Downloadable!]
  2. Alesina, Alberto F & Glaeser, Edward L & Sacerdote, Bruce, 2005. "Work and Leisure in the US and Europe: Why So Different?," CEPR Discussion Papers 5140, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  3. Davis, Steven J. & Henrekson, Magnus, 2004. "Tax Effects on Work Activity, Industry Mix and Shadow Economy Size: Evidence from Rich-Country Comparisons," Ratio Working Papers 57, The Ratio Institute. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Benno Torgler, 2003. "Tax Morale in Transition Countries," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 357-381, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Elias Mossialos & Sara Allin & Konstantina Davaki, 2005. "Analysing the Greek health system: a tale of fragmentation and inertia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(S1), pages S151-S168. [Downloadable!]
  6. Rutkowski, Jan, 2006. "Labor market developments during economic transition," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3894, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
  7. J. David Brown & John S. Earle & Dana Lup, 2004. "What Makes Small Firms Grow? Finance, Human Capital, Technical Assistance, and the Business Environment in Romania," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series 2004-702, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross Business School. [Downloadable!]
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  8. Marco Di Domizio, 2007. "Effect of social contribution evasion on working time allocation: theoretical contribution in a two sector model," Discussion Papers 6_2007, D.E.S. (Department of Economic Studies), University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy. [Downloadable!]
  9. Gatti, Roberta & Honorati, Maddalena, 2008. "Informality among formal firms : firm-level, cross-country evidence on tax compliance and access to credit," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4476, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  10. Jaanika Meriküll & Karsten Staehr, 2008. "Unreported employment and tax evasion in mid-transition : comparing developments and causes in the Baltic States," Bank of Estonia Working Papers 2008-06, Bank of Estonia, revised 28 Nov 2008. [Downloadable!]
  11. Olovsson, Conny, 2004. "Why do Europeans Work so Little?," Seminar Papers 727, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies. [Downloadable!]
  12. Antón Pérez, José Ignacio, 2006. "The Reform of the Pension Systems in Easterm Europe and these Impact about the Efficiency and Equity/La reforma de los sistemas de pensiones en Europa del Este y su impacto sobre la eficiencia y la eq," Estudios de Economía Aplicada, Estudios de Economía Aplicada, vol. 24, pages 643 (20 p, Agosto. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  13. Pilar García Gómez & Guillem López, 2003. "Hypothesis on immigration and welfare," Economics Working Papers 905, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, revised Oct 2005. [Downloadable!]
  14. Pinar Yesin, 2004. "Tax Collection Costs, Tax Evasion and Optimal Interest Rates," Working Papers 04.02, Swiss National Bank, Study Center Gerzensee. [Downloadable!]
  15. Shima, Isilda, 2004. "The shadow economy in Norway: Demand for currency approach," Memorandum 10/2004, Oslo University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  16. J. David Brown & John S. Earle & Dana Lup, 2004. "Finance, Human Capital, Technical Assistance, and the Business Environment in Romania," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series 2004-639, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross Business School. [Downloadable!]
  17. Zoe Kuehn, 2007. "Tax rates, governance, and the informal economy in high-income countries," Economics Working Papers we078551, Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Economía. [Downloadable!]
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