Losses from shadow economy predicted higher than last year's zl.45 billion

According to an estimate by Prawo i Gospodarka, the shadow economy produces around 15% of Poland's GDP. The daily classifies the shadow economy into two main sectors, one including crimes such as illegal alcohol production and drug trafficking, and the other comprising tax evasion. The report says that in 2000, the value of trade in the shadow economy was zl.99.5 billion, bringing a loss to the State of zl.45 billion. Experts claim the figure will be even higher this year. According to Central Statistical Office (GUS) figures for 1998, 1.4 million people were active in the shadow economy, at a time when unemployment was 1.8 million. Based on these figures, the current level of 2.9 million registered unemployed indicates that the number of those working illegally and without paying tax may be as high as 2.5 million, most of them employed in the trade, construction and service sectors. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 2) J.K.