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A Re-examination of the U.S. Underground Economy: Size, Estimation, and Policy Implications

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  • M. Kabir Hassan
  • Jung Suk-Yu

Abstract

We re-examine the size of the underground economy in the U.S. between 1972 and 2006, after properly adjusting for several statistical issues relating to its estimation. The dynamic error-correction-based currency demand approach confirms that income tax rates have no contemporaneous effect on currency demand, but they have positive and significant effects with a one-period lag. In addition, we observe that the size of the underground economy in the U.S. has grown considerably during the post-1990 period from $148.7 billion (3.4% of official GDP) in 1973 to $691.2 billion (6.0% of official GDP) in 2006. We also find that misspecified models have a propensity for overstating the size of the underground economy. During recessionary periods, the underground and official economies move in a same direction, although the growth rates of the underground economy are more unpredictable than those of the official economy.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Kabir Hassan & Jung Suk-Yu, 2010. "A Re-examination of the U.S. Underground Economy: Size, Estimation, and Policy Implications," NFI Working Papers 2010-WP-04, Indiana State University, Scott College of Business, Networks Financial Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:nfi:nfiwps:2010-wp-04
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Misbah Kiani & Adeel Ahmed & Khalid Zaman, 2015. "Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches for measuring underground economy of Pakistan," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 295-317, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Underground economy; currency demand method; error correction model; non-stationarity with unit roots; serial correlations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money

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