Executive summary

Abstract

The shadow economy is one of the biggest challenges to the Serbian economy, with its consequences in terms of tax evasion, labour market distortion, unfair competition, and inefficient allocation of resources. It is a major obstacle to the development of a strong business sector and to building a well-functioning market economy. Even though the shadow economy is still an important safety net for many individuals and households in Serbia, the disadvantages for workers, business, and society at large far outweigh the advantages. This chapter summarizes the main findings and the proposed policy measures for formalising the shadow economy.