The black market has existed at all times, but it is especially in demand where there is a shortage of goods and food. Here are just a list of popular illegal goods on it is surprising and bewildering.
Usually, when it comes to illegal goods sold on the black market, then weapons and drugs come to mind. But such a product as sugar is no less popular. For example, in Malaysia there is a large black market for sugar, as it is practically not available for free sale. This is mainly not about white sugar that is familiar to us, but about turbinado, brown sugar, which is more beneficial to humans and of high quality.
Almonds, like any other nut, are considered the healthiest snack. On the package from the store it is written that this is a natural raw nut, but in fact, this is not the case. Under legal trade standards, almonds must be pasteurized in order to destroy the cyanide that is part of the nut. Cyanide is a poison that is also used for military purposes.
Every day, everyone uses a variety of means to maintain cleanliness in the house and, of course, from time to time, they do laundry. One of the most popular items on the black market is laundry detergent, which brings in high incomes to criminal groups. Large criminal organizations at one time sent their agents to supermarkets to purchase various laundry detergents in order to study the formula and organize their own underground and quite profitable production.
Sweets are available almost everywhere in the world today. You can go to any supermarket and buy your favorite confectionery. But in 2012, Hostess announced its exit from the business, and black clouds of disappointment and panic hung over lovers of the Twinkie biscuit. Everyone rushed to the shops and tried to buy as much as possible of what was left. Fortunately, the black market found an opportunity to continue selling the beloved biscuit, despite the fact that it is not officially released.
A person is often not tolerant towards animals, and it is not for nothing that many species on the planet today are already considered extinct or are on the verge of extinction. The most sought-after product on the black market is the horn of the white rhinoceros, whose population has declined catastrophically.
Every corner of the world has its own delicacies, but the most sought after on the black market is the sea cucumber. This animal is sold illegally on the Chinese black market. Not only selling, but also catching it in China is officially prohibited. Unfortunately, the ban created demand and increased illegal fishing. There are consumers willing to pay big money for sea cucumber.
Illegal transportation is also popular on the black market. In many cities of the world there is public transport in the form of buses, taxis that work legally and pay taxes, and the government regulates and controls the quality of carriers. Passenger transport on the black market is much cheaper than official carriers. It is the low price that has become the priority that makes passengers turn a blind eye to low-quality service and the fact that an illegal carrier does not pay taxes to the state.
Recently, interest in video games has increased, just a couple of years ago it was difficult to imagine to what a high level it would rise. In this regard, criminal groups, using the services of hackers, hack players' money accounts, gaining illegal access to passwords and personal information. After that, the data is sold on the black market, earning money.
Among the popular products there is also hair. Human hair wigs appear on the black market illegally, through robberies of beauty salons and specialty stores and individuals. All this is done for profit. It is hard to imagine that someone deliberately grew their hair for years in order to sell it on the black market. And the goods on the black market appear constantly.
Every mother wants her child to be full and healthy. Recently, the formula, on the basis of which large manufacturers produce balanced baby food, has been hunted. The fact is that it is based on the technology for the production of heroin and methamphetamine. Manufacturers are now taking unprecedented security measures to protect formulas before the finished product hits the shelves.
One of the strangest black market commodities is semen. This product is quite popular among those involved in sperm donation and artificial insemination. In Canada, the sale of semen is prohibited and considered illegal, as it must comply with standards and medical indicators of quality and safety, the provision of which costs a lot of money and expenses.
Even holy water is sold on the black market. The seller will confidently inform the buyer that the water is delivered from the right source, but there is no way to check it.
Recently, the demand for the services of plastic surgeons has increased. People strive for excellence at any cost. A doctor, especially a surgeon, to whom people trust their lives, must be highly qualified, and the services of such a specialist are expensive. Unfortunately, in order to save money, people turn to underground surgeons, risking everything.
Many strange goods are sold on the black market. Along with jewelry, clothes, mobile phones, you can buy the uniform of Japanese airlines flight attendants here. Some people are interested in the form for their own purposes, others acquire it for filming in pornographic films, others as criminals for the possibility of illegal access to airport premises.
1. Organs
It's no secret that human organs are traded on the black market. People from different parts of the world sell their organs for a lot of money, and this is not only kidneys, but also hair and blood. Oddly enough, but people are ready to sell anything, just to buy a new iPad.
Causes of the black market
The black market exists almost everywhere where there is a ban on the trade of some product, or it is somehow limited. There is always a certain number of people who are trying to get what they want despite the ban. Accordingly, there are also people who, in order to earn money, offer the necessary goods and services. Black market trading is more profitable than legal trading, but also more risky.
Examples of black markets
- Trade in stolen works of art.
- Bootlegging is the alcohol trade during Prohibition.
- Arms trade.
- Trade in forged documents.
- Trade in rare species of animals.
- Slave trade (human trafficking).
- Pimping.
- Trade in pornographic and erotic materials where their distribution is prohibited.
- The black market for food in countries where food rationing was introduced during the war.
- Clonlegging - illegal trade in human organs for transplantation
Black market in the USSR
The black market is an essential feature of a socialist economy. Since private enterprise and trade were prohibited by law in the USSR, in fact, any transactions outside the state trade system constituted a black market. Δ
Notes
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See what the "Black Market" is in other dictionaries:
The totality of economic relations between sellers and buyers of goods and services that develop in violation of the current legislation. The black market is one of the attributes of the shadow economy. In English: Black market See also: ... ... Financial vocabulary
See MARKET BLACK. Raizberg B.A., Lozovsky L.Sh., Starodubtseva E.B. Modern economic dictionary. 2nd ed., rev. M .: INFRA M. 479 s .. 1999 ... Economic dictionary
- (black market) An illegal market for any product or service. It arises in conditions when either trade in a certain product (for example, weapons), or trade in general during a certain period, for example, during a war, is controlled. compare: ... ... Glossary of business terms
- "BLACK MARKET", the sphere of illegal, speculative trade in scarce (usually consumer) goods ... encyclopedic Dictionary
The sphere of illegal, speculative trade in scarce (usually consumer) goods ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (black market) Trading in circumvention of laws on rationing and / or price control (price control). By definition, black markets can only exist when the state tries to control prices or... ... Economic dictionary
BLACK MARKET- a set of economic relations between sellers and buyers of goods and services that develop in violation of the current legislation. It is one of the attributes of the shadow economy and occurs, as a rule, in those areas where there is ... ... Legal Encyclopedia
Black market- BLACK MARKET Speculative trade in goods. A black market occurs when the government tries to artificially keep the prices of goods below their equilibrium level, such as through rationing (see Rationing). If in such a situation... Dictionary-reference book on economics
BLACK MARKET- (black market) arises as a result of entering the market illegally, illegally produced and marketed goods. These types of goods are estimated to account for 5 to 10% of all world merchandise trade. These are counterfeit goods... Foreign economic explanatory dictionary
BLACK MARKET- 1970s The book market in the square in the courtyard of the house number 49 51 on Liteiny Prospekt ... Dictionary of the Petersburger
Books
- North Korea from the inside. Black Market, Fashion, Camps, Dissidents and Defectors, Tudor Daniel, Pearson James. What do we know about North Korea? Almost nothing. And not because it is the most closed country in the world, but because in reality everything is not the way we used to think. The authors of this book were able to...
- Inside North Korea: Black Market, Fashion, Camps, Dissidents and Defectors, Tudor D. What do we know about North Korea? Almost nothing. And not because it is the most closed country in the world, but because in reality everything is not the way we used to think. The authors of this book were able to...
There is one thing that is even older than the oldest of all professions, and that is human cunning. People have always tried to circumvent all sorts of laws and restrictions, because of which, over time, the concept of the black market was born. All types of trade that are prohibited by law are conducted on black markets. It is also called the market of the second economy, as well as the shadow market.
Despite being illegal, such illegal platforms are thriving these days. We do not urge you to take a grocery basket and go shopping for illegal goods, but we just want to tell you what the black markets are based on.
1. How black markets work
Of course, any transaction is very dangerous for both the seller and the buyer. For this reason, it is very difficult to reach the right person - specific connections and acquaintances are required.
How difficult is it to find a place and a person who will introduce you to the underworld of prohibited goods? Depends on how serious the product you are going to purchase. It is relatively easy to find a seller of banned animals, but it will not be so easy to buy a rare stolen antique item. Today in China there is a whole market of counterfeit products, which many people know about, and despite this, it functions quietly.
2. What kind of people work in the black markets
You may have formed a stereotype that every black market seller is a gangster with a scar across half his face, but this is not entirely true. This activity involves people of different social classes, races and continents. Drug dealers, prostitutes, human and arms dealers, mafia members and simple businessmen who are trying to sell stolen goods.
Often these are people who pretend to be businessmen, willing to take risks to make more money. And other sellers consider themselves art historians, because they can offer rare paintings that cannot be found in any museum. Just agree on a price.
3. What is sold on the black market
As you understand, absolutely everything can be bought on this trading platform. Such things as drugs, weapons, the slave trade immediately come to mind, but this is far from all, but only one part of the illegal segment. Horns, animal skins, as well as animals listed in the Red Book are popular. Unfortunately, there are also creepier goods, such as human organs. With money, today you can even buy them. The most ordinary, but expensive items are also in demand.
These products are so popular because the purchase is not subject to taxes and fees, and in the future there will be no demand from the buyer where he purchased a particular product, because this purchase is not reflected in any documents.
4. What services are provided on the black market
Of course, prostitution and various kinds of trade are far from the only services on the black market. Corruption and many shadow economic schemes flourish here.
It works like this: a person with connections brings together interested parties who agree among themselves. One side transfers a certain amount to the other, for example, for patronage in the matter she needs. Plus, there are many transactions for the sale and purchase, which, if formalized, would be taxed. No government regulation and complete lawlessness - this is exactly what dishonest businessmen are looking for.
5. The main reasons for the formation of black markets
The first reason is the tax system of the state. Many people, trying to avoid paying taxes, resort to shady schemes to save their money. The second reason is the shortage of goods, and it is not necessary that they be illegal. Remember even the times of the USSR, when the store shelves were empty and you had to get everything from under the floor. And, of course, the specificity of some products that are prohibited for production and sale around the world. They can only be obtained on the black market.
6. How the black market appeared
It is very difficult to tell how it arose, because both sellers and buyers are doing their best to keep the secret of their identity. But it is known that the first illegal markets began to appear in China, and they presented exactly the same products that can be found in ordinary sellers, but at a lower price. This is where competition comes in. In Europe, the formation of illicit markets occurred around 1315 due to the great famine. People speculated in grain, the sale of which was strictly limited and banned.
7. How do black markets exist today?
Of course, this is not a classic bazaar, where you can choose from a variety of illegal goods. Today, most transactions take place on the Internet using various web technologies that hide the identity and location of the user. Many of these sites use technology that is named after the god of thunder and Odin's son, you get the idea. This provides the dealers with security and quiet work, if it can be called such.
8. Scale
It is very difficult to estimate the size of the black market because of its secrecy and inaccessibility. It is almost impossible to collect exact data, but it is known that its profitability can compete with the economies of many countries. If you are interested in numbers, albeit approximate, then the turnover for the year is about 10 trillion dollars. A very significant amount, don't you think?
9. Is it possible to overcome the black market
The problem is that there will always be a demand for the services provided and the products that the black market offers. And complete anonymity makes this task even more difficult. Of course, operational work is underway to search for sellers and buyers, but due to the fact that illegal activities are moving to the world wide web and losing some physical component, this task is becoming more and more difficult from year to year.
10. How the global economy affects black markets
Just like the legal ones. Before the development of the global world economy, which linked continents and countries, black markets were local and met the demand of a particular region. Today, with the development of communications, globalization and the widespread introduction of the Internet, this phenomenon has acquired a global character. Many sellers make their services and products extremely attractive due to availability and the ability to ship anywhere. Such dubious customer focus attracts more and more buyers.
11. Who suffers from black markets
Such activities, in addition to being illegal, bring a lot of suffering to people, especially those who are commodities within the illegal market. Slave trade, prostitution - today about 2.5 million people are goods that they buy and sell.
Women are forced to engage in prostitution, and even in those countries where it is legalized, there are special, forbidden, perverted forms of this craft that few people will agree to of their own free will. Men are sold as slaves, labor, but who knows what will be on the mind of the next crazy client?
12. Can the black market system help someone?
Oddly enough, yes. In many third world countries, the shadow economy is the main way of existence for many people. Due to the fact that transactions made outside the law are not taxed, many people prefer to sell their legal goods in a not the most legal way. Goods include food, basic necessities - everything you need for life, but at a reasonable price.
13. Can black markets be prevented?
Illicit markets thrive when the public does not have access to a wide variety of goods and the state is unwilling to provide them. The more products available at a normal price, the fewer options that a large-scale black market will be formed in a particular state. In other words, the better the state's economy is developed, the less likely it is that a black market will be created and organized within its borders.
The economic policy of the state is also important, because where people are pressured by taxes, prices for goods are rising, and salaries remain at the same level, people simply have no choice. They have to find cheaper goods, and they are mostly illegal because they are not taxed. But will this worry the head of the family, who is barely making ends meet?
14. How do people feel about this phenomenon
It all depends on the sale of specific goods and services. If we are talking about drugs, weapons, human trafficking, animals, then this activity will be condemned. But if goods of general use or scarce products are sold there, then people are unlikely to be against the existence of such a shadow market. For example, in America, during Prohibition, alcohol became an inaccessible thing, and its production was mainly controlled by criminal gangs, so that many citizens, although they did not support the mafia, committed a crime by buying alcohol on the black market. Once again, demand created supply, and scarcity created a new black market.
For example, trading "from the back door", when the sellers in the store kept the deficit and sold it to "their own". There was also trade "from under the counter." The seller hid the deficit and took it out again if “his own” appeared, or kept it for himself. There was trade "from under the floor", usually on the street: scarce goods were hidden and carefully taken out only when a potential buyer appeared. It was very common to purchase goods "by pull". For this, it was necessary to have acquaintances in trade. Sometimes they were friends with a person only because it was possible to get something through him. In the USSR, the term "buy" was very often replaced by the term "get". Store workers could “write off” a good product as a defect in order to be able to resell it and put the money in their pocket. Sometimes the goods were hidden "under the counter", then they made a markdown - allegedly no one takes the thing - and sold it to one of "their own". Often, factory workers sold their products on the black market. There were “farmers” who bought imported goods from foreigners and then resold them to “ours”. Fartsovka was often done by employees of hotels where guests from abroad stayed - maids, bartenders, and cleaners. They resold the goods to resellers. The resellers themselves were on duty for days at Intourist and Metropol, paying doormen not to drive them away. Fartsovshchikov had their own places where they handed over the goods to buyers. But they could do it in an ordinary yard, and even in a public toilet. And finally, there were the so-called "guilds". In clandestine workshops, they sewed fashionable clothes, often labeling them with foreign brands and passing them off as imported, and then sold them. All this activity was, of course, criminally punishable. Moreover, the goods were most often resold not at face value, but at an inflated price, and this was already an article for speculation. According to her, they could be given five to seven years with confiscation of property. For commercial mediation in the acquisition of scarce products, they were given three years. With the end of the Soviet Union, this ugly form of the economy ceased to exist. However, the black market still exists today, where you can buy weapons, drugs, human organs and even ... slaves.
Where there are some permissions, there are also prohibitions, and prohibitions always cause a desire to circumvent them. One of the integral parts of the economy is the black market. What it is, whether it has any advantages for the country and individual citizens, and how participants in such trade are punished, will be analyzed in this article.
What is the black market and how is it formed
When there are restrictions or a strict ban on the trade of any product, there are always people who want to get it.
There is a demand - there is a supply, this is how the black market is born. People who can get the product they are looking for offer it to others in various ways and make a profit for it. It should be noted that in black is much more profitable than legally, for both the seller and the buyer. First, the seller sets the price himself, ignoring antitrust laws and market-driven rules. If this is a special product, then it may not have competition, and therefore, prices are set simply cosmic. For the buyer, transactions on the black market are beneficial, because the price of the goods excludes the payment of taxes and government fees, which somewhat reduces the cost. Secondly, on the black market you can get anything that can be prohibited by the laws of the state or society, from drugs to human organs.
Who controls the black market
In addition to the participants, the black market are its organizers. Usually, goods for sale on the black market are associated with smuggling - where else does it come from, for example, weapons or drugs in circulation? It is not difficult to guess that organized crime controls the black market.
The very rights to the goods occur through very complex connections between buyers and intermediaries or sellers, and this is not surprising, because all participants in illegal operations become objects of persecution by regulatory government agencies.
What can you buy on the black market
In addition to absolutely harmless prohibited by the state for one reason or another, people and ammunition can be purchased on the black market. Examples of such markets:
1. Alcohol. Despite the fact that "flammable liquid" is legal for sale in most countries, for residents of those places where alcohol is available, it is only available on black markets. Today, these are Muslim states, where even the possession of alcohol is a reason for detention.
2. Black market for weapons. According to official data, the legal sale of weapons significantly exceeds the turnover of them and ammunition on the black market. And yet such a market has been operating since the eighties of the last century.
3. Trade in stolen antiques and works of art. It occurs mainly through online auctions and is carefully monitored by regulatory authorities in order to bring both the seller and the potential buyer to justice.
4. Rare species of reptiles, birds and animals, sale of smuggled black and red caviar. In addition to the fact that these crimes are immoral, participants in such trade can go to prison for a term of 3 years or more.
5. Selling people is the slave trade. One of the heaviest crimes that exist. Some countries carry the death penalty for the slave trade.
6. Prostitution, sale of sexual services.
7. Sale of erotic materials, porn products where it is prohibited.
8. Sale of human organs for operations (clonelegging). Most often, the donors are completely ordinary people and children who become the objects of abduction.
9. Sale of fake documents. Prosecuted by law in any country, the term of imprisonment - from 3 years.
10. Sale of drugs. The law punishes not only sellers, but also buyers.
11. Sale of software for hacking computer programs.
If the turnover is illegal, then the sale and purchase operations are carried out in a slightly different way, and not in the usual way, familiar to buyers. In the days of the Soviet Union, when not only alcohol, but even ordinary jeans and other imported products were banned, the “black market” was so widespread that people even appeared to denote illegal trade: “get it through pull”, “buy from under floors”, “trade from the back door”, “get it out from under the counter”.
This was no coincidence, since flaunting fashionable things, buying good equipment, books, foreign sound recordings was only possible underground, through acquaintances, in rented apartments and through nominees, because speculation was prosecuted and punished by imprisonment.
In addition, the profession of a "farmer" was also widespread, that is, a speculator in imported things ("firm"). It should be noted that they traded not only genuine goods from abroad, but also consumer goods made in the so-called "workshops" in order to make a profit.
How is illegal trade going today?
Criminally punishable trade in illegal products today is carried out in completely different ways than before, although the essence has not changed. Where does the black market operate and how can smuggled goods be found?
The most popular way is to use the web. Forums, chats, communities on a topic of interest - everywhere there are just curious people, as well as people related to illegal business. In addition, auctions are often held where you can buy stolen works of art. You just need to know which resource to go to.
Once a potential buyer and seller of contraband find each other, they can meet on neutral ground, usually with an intermediary, and complete the deal.
