Once the underground economy is taken into account, there is a whole new layer of complexity to tax policy. In effect, it means that individuals can sometimes choose to "opt out" of the tax system. Taxes that may seem to be optimal without the underground economy may no longer be optimal once it...

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between fiscal illusion and the shadow economy for 104 countries over the period 1989-2009. We argue that both unobservable phenomena are closely linked to each other, as the creation of a fiscal illusion may be helpful if governments...

Cash transactions for goods and services in which no receipts are issued greatly increase the risk of tax evasion. Despite the availability of banking services and alternative payment, key sectors of the economy remain largely cash-based in almost all developing countries. This paper shows the...

Main description: Steuerhinterziehung könnte bald den Fußball als Volkssport Nummer Eins ablösen. Die daraus resultierenden Mindereinnahmen schränken die politischen Handlungsspielräume ein und verleiten die Regierung dazu, die Belastung über Steuern und Abgaben zu erhöhen. Dadurch steigt...

Those engaging in tax non-compliance have been conventionally explained as rational economic actors partaking when the benefits outweigh the costs, and thus public administrations have sought to enforce compliance using a deterrence approach which increases the risk of detection and penalties....