Handbook on the shadow economy The shadow economy (also known as the black or underground economy) covers a vast array of trade goods and services that are not part of the official economy of a country. This original and comprehensive Handbook presents the latest research on the size and development of the shadow economy which remains an integral component of the economies of most developing and many developed countries pt. 1. Size and development of the shadow economies all over the world pt. 2. Regional variation in the size and development of the shadow economy pt. 3. Shadow economy illicit work and related economies pt. 4. Tax morale and the shadow economy pt. 5. Corruption and the shadow economy