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Unemployment and the underground economy in Australia

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  • Christopher Bajada

Abstract

Despite government attempts to reduce welfare benefit fraud in Australia, participation in the underground economy by those claiming to be unemployed continues. Although there exists considerable international literature on the size of the underground economy, academics and public officials alike have paid little attention to the extent of participation in the underground economy by those who claim to be unemployed and in receipt of social security payments. This study provides the first known estimate of how changes in the unemployment rate affect the size and growth of the underground economy in Australia and the likely economic implications this may have for public policy decisions. We find that a number of unemployed Australians prefer to remain unemployed and work surreptitiously in the underground economy, while others, after becoming unemployed and finding legitimate employment, prefer to continue working in the underground economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Bajada, 2005. "Unemployment and the underground economy in Australia," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 177-189.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:37:y:2005:i:2:p:177-189
    DOI: 10.1080/0003684042000291335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza, 2009. "Illegal trade in the Iranian economy: Evidence from a structural model," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 489-507, December.
    3. Christopher Bajada & Friedrich Schneider, 2009. "Unemployment and the Shadow Economy in the oecd," Revue économique, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 60(5), pages 1033-1067.
    4. Rümeysa Çelik & Abdurrahman Keskin & Abdulkadir Keskin, 2021. "Türkiye’de Ekonomik Büyüme, İşsizlik ve Enflasyonun Kayıt Dışı İstihdam Üzerindeki Etkisi: ARDL Sınır Testi Yaklaşımı," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(80), pages 451-474, June.
    5. Roberto Dell'Anno & Offiong Helen Solomon, 2008. "Shadow economy and unemployment rate in USA: is there a structural relationship? An empirical analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(19), pages 2537-2555.
    6. Abdullah Bin Zafar & Tanvir Ahmed Tuhin, 2024. "An Ordinary Least Squares Approach Measuring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Underground Economy of Bangladesh and Their Implications in the Context of the Country’s Supply Chain," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 34(1), pages 92-107.

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