Main Article Content

Adrián Ríos Blanco
Universidade da Coruña
Spain
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8721-6634
Vol 31 No 1 (2022), Articles, pages 1-17
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15304/rge.31.1.8098
Submitted: 10-11-2021 Accepted: 25-03-2022 Published: 24-06-2022
Images.
Copyright How to Cite Cited by

Abstract

Using panel data from 29 OECD countries between 1991-2015 in an economic growth model of two sectors with heterogeneous productivities, we show that the underground economy exerts an effect on the official one. Both economies move in opposite directions because when hidden GDP grows, economic growth is damaged through a negative externality or spillover. However, the marginal productivity of the shadow economy is found to be lower than that of the official one, so, it is possible to some extent that the rules available to control it are effective. The application of different econometric techniques leads to similar conclusions demonstrating the robustness of the results.