FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN ASSESSING THE SHADOW ECONOMY AND AUDITING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY TO COUNTER THE SHADOW ECONOMY

Abstract

The article considers foreign experience in the field of assessing the shadow economy, the policy of countering the shadow economy, as well as the experience of conducting an audit of efficiency in certain areas of countering shadow activity. Terminological collisions in the study of the shadow economy are considered: the use of different terms to denote it; different interpretations for determining the shadow activity itself and its components.

The methods for assessing the shadow economy used in different countries are given. The experience of carrying out measures to reduce the size of the shadow sector, implemented in various countries, is systematized, which are aimed at curbing the conditions conducive to leaving the «shadow» of economic entities, as well as encouraging the population and entrepreneurs to formalize illegal, semi-legal relations and reduce their loyalty to the «shadow» business schemes.The practices of the Supreme Audit Institutions of the United States and Germany in conducting an audit of the effectiveness of policies in the field of countering the shadow economy (regulation of the circulation of virtual currencies and the interaction of tax and customs authorities in countering undeclared employment) are also analyzed.

In general, an analysis of the experience of countries in conducting an audit of the effectiveness of policies to combat the shadow economy showed that the subject of the audit is not a set of measures covering all aspects of this policy, but only its individual areas and issues. For example, this could be an audit of the effectiveness of policies in the area of ​​tax concealment or undeclared employment, or in the area of ​​measures to combat human trafficking. Also, examples could be an audit of the effectiveness of measures of individual government agencies to reduce undeclared employment or an audit of the effectiveness of coordination of the activities of several government agencies or agencies when implementing joint government policy measures in this area.