Black market: the essence, the types and the current state of things

Where there are some permits, there are prohibitions, and prohibitions always cause a desire to bypass them. One of the integral parts of the economy is the black market. What is it, whether it has any advantages for the country and individual citizens and how participants of such trade are punished will be analyzed in this article.

What is the black market and how is it formed?

When there are restrictions or a strict ban on the trade in any product, there are always people who want to receive it.

There is demand - there is an offer, this is how the black market is born. People who can get the desired product, offer it in other different ways and get profit for it. It should be noted that trading in black is much more profitable than legally, and for the seller, and for the buyer. First, the seller himself sets the price, not paying attention to the antitrust laws and rules dictated by the market. If it is a special commodity, then it may not have competition, and consequently, prices are simply set to space. For a buyer, transactions on the black market are beneficial, because the price of the goods excludes payment of taxes and government fees, which makes the cost somewhat cheaper. Secondly, you can get anything on the black market, which can be prohibited by the laws of the state or society, from drugs to human organs.

Who controls the black market

In addition to the participants, the driving force of the black market is its organizers. Usually the goods for sale on the black market are interlinked with smuggling - where else is the weapon or drug in circulation from, for example? It is not difficult to guess that organized crime controls the black market.

The very act of transferring the rights to the goods occurs through highly complex contacts of buyers with intermediaries or sellers, and this is not surprising, because all participants in illegal operations become targets of harassment by controlling state bodies.

What can I buy on the black market?

In addition to absolutely innocuous types of goods banned by the state for one reason or another, people and ammunition can be purchased on the black market. Examples of such markets:

1. Alcohol. Despite the fact that "combustible liquid" is authorized for sale in most countries, for residents of those places where the dry law operates , alcohol is available only in black markets. To date, these are Muslim states, where even the storage of alcohol is a reason for detention.

2. Black market of weapons. According to official data, the legal sale of weapons significantly exceeds its turnover and ammunition on the black market. And yet such a market has been operating since the eighties of the last century.

3. Trade in stolen antiques and works of art. It occurs mainly through online auctions and is carefully monitored by the regulatory authorities to bring to trial both the seller and the prospective buyer.

4. Rare species of reptiles, birds and animals, sale of contraband black and red caviar. In addition to the fact that these crimes are immoral, participants in such trafficking can go to prison for a period of 3 years.

5. Sale of people - the slave trade. One of the most serious crimes that exist. In some countries, the slave trade provides for the death penalty.

6. Prostitution, sale of sexual services.

7. Sale of erotic materials, pornography where prohibited.

8. Sale of human organs for operations (cloning). Most often, ordinary people and children who are targets of abduction serve as donors.

9. Sale of fake documentation. Pursued by law in any country, the term of imprisonment is from 3 years.

10. Sale of narcotic substances. The law is punishable not only by sellers, but also by buyers.

11. Sale of software for hacking computer programs.

How was the sale on the black market in Soviet times

If the turnover is illegal, then the purchase and sale transactions are carried out in a slightly different way, rather than the usual, customary for buyers. During the Soviet era, when not only alcohol, but even ordinary jeans and other imported products were banned, the "black market" was so widespread that even people appeared to have stable expressions denoting illegal trade: "get out of trouble," "buy From under the floor, "" trade from the back door, "" get it from under the counter. "

It was not accidental, as it was not accidental to flaunt in fashionable things, buy good equipment, books, foreign sound recordings could only be underground, through acquaintances, in rented apartments and through frontmen, because speculation was pursued and punished with imprisonment.

In addition, the profession of the "forefather", that is, the speculator, with imported things ("firm") was also common. It should be noted that they traded not only genuine goods from abroad, but also manufactured in so-called "shops" with consumer goods for profit.

How is illegal trade going today?

The criminally punishable trade in illegal products is now carried out in completely different ways than before, although the essence has not changed. Where is the black market functioning and how can a smuggled goods be found?

The most popular way is to use the Web. Forums, chat rooms, communities on the topic of interest - everywhere there are just curious people, and people related to illegal business. In addition, auctions are often often held where you can buy stolen works of art. You just need to know which resource to go to.

After the potential buyer and seller of smuggling find each other, they can meet in a neutral territory, usually with the participation of an intermediary, and carry out the transaction.