Title: Informal opportunity among SMEs: an empirical study of Denmark's underground economy

Authors: Shahamak Rezaei; Marco Goli; Léo-Paul Dana

Addresses: Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University Building 25.3, P.O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark ' Metropolitan University College, Metropol University College, Copenhagen, Denmark ' Montpellier Research in Management, GSCM Groupe Sup de Co, Montpellier Business School, 2300 Avenue des Moulins, 34185 Montpellier Cedex 4, France

Abstract: Based on interviews with (legal and illegal) immigrants to Denmark, meetings with stakeholders and with experts in the field, this article addresses issues regarding the underground economy. Our findings show that, in Denmark, the existence of an underground economy makes it possible for semi-compliant and non-compliant immigrants to make a living. We suggest that the underground economy in Denmark will continue to provide networks of illegal residents with opportunities for informal economic activities as trust allows entrepreneurs to function below the radar, by owning enterprises registered using the names of people who are legally in this country.

Keywords: economic opportunities; informal economy; immigrant networks; Denmark; trust; underground economy; black economy; illegal immigrants; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2013.054312

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2013 Vol.19 No.1, pp.64 - 76

Published online: 30 Sep 2013 *

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