Exploring the Underground Economy

Tax evasion. Illegal drugs. Overseas holdings of U.S. currency. Crime. What these issues have in common is their contribution to the underground economy, that multi-billion dollar entity prospering unofficially outside the realm of the conventional economy. Individually, the six contributors to this volume each provide a detailed examination of specific segments of the underground economy including its participants, attempts at measurement, and policy responses. Taken together, the essays offer a thorough overview that emphasizes the importance and magnitude of one of the largest economies in the world.