Chain Reaction Podcast Shadow Economy, Real-World Costs
What if one out of every four dollars in the global economy moves in the dark? We pull back the curtain on the shadow economy—its staggering size, where it thrives, and why it quietly reshapes taxes, wages, prices, and trust. From cash-only construction crews and informal hospitality work to trillion-dollar counterfeit flows, we connect the macro numbers to everyday choices that erode margins for honest firms and endanger consumers. We ground the conversation with region-by-region clarity: t…