The aims of this paper are, firstly, to estimate the Italian shadow economy by means of a structural equation approach and, secondly, to verify the generality of the main criticisms about the reliability of the "MIMIC method" (or model approach) for this kind of analysis. Using the Italian...

Using the MIMIC method, this paper is a first attempt to estimate the size of the shadow economy of 158 countries over the period 1991 up to 2015. In addition to performing a variety of robustness tests, this paper explicitly addresses endogeneity concerns to the use of GDP as cause and...

We undertake an extended discussion of the latest developments about the existing and new estimation methods of the shadow economy. New results on the shadow economy for 158 countries all over the world are presented over 1991 to 2015. Strengths and weaknesses of these methods are assessed and a...

We investigate the size and trends of the informal economy (IE) in ten Balkan nations from 1996-2021 using the MIMIC model. Our findings reveal a consistent decline in the IE in our sample, albeit it remains substantial, exceeding 29% (of GDP) in 2021. We also explore the impact of the COVID-19...

Using an enhanced MIMIC method, this paper presents new and long-run estimates of the Informal Economy (IE) for 152 countries from 1997 to 2022. We address several limitations found in previous estimates of the IE, notably issues surrounding the missing values, time-invariant country...

This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the volume of the Non-Observed Economy (NOE) in Portugal, by estimating, based on MIMIC models (multiple indicators multiple causes), its path in the period 1977-2008. On the one hand, given the influence of the tax burden, the burden of...

This study investigates the main causes and consequences of import and export smuggling and estimates the relative index of smuggling in Iran from 1970 to 2002. The Multiple Indicators - Multiple Causes (MIMIC) econometric modelling is used for a comprehensive analysis of the latent variable of...

This paper is a first attempt to estimate the size and development of the shadow economy of 158 countries over the period 1991 up to 2015. Using the Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes (MIMIC) method we apply for the first time (i) the light intensity approach instead of GDP avoiding the...

Using the MIMIC method, this paper is a first attempt to estimate the size of the shadow economy of 158 countries over the period 1991 up to 2015. In addition to performing a variety of robustness tests, this paper explicitly addresses endogeneity concerns to the use of GDP as cause and...

This paper analyzes a simple model that captures the relationship between institutional quality, the shadow economy and corruption. It shows that an improvement in institutional quality reduces the shadow economy and affects the corruption market. The exact relationship between corruption and...