Marco Goli

Informal Opportunity among SMEs: an Empirical Study of Denmark’s Underground Economy

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.

An empirical study of the underground economy in the Kingdom of Belgium

This article investigates the underground economy in Belgium. Although several government initiatives are attempting to combat underground economic activities, we found illegal foreign workers identifying opportunities and fulfilling market needs. Underground employment thus thrives in a variety of sectors, including the building sector, cleaning houses, delivery jobs, garage business horticulture, hotels, industrial cleaning, and social work.

Migration and Integration Regimes and Substantial Citizenships in the EU

This chapter explores the complex theme of immigrants’ civic participation – political or social engagement going beyond voting – in the European Union, using Denmark as a case study. The country has gone through a particularly interesting transformation in terms of immigration policies, from a society initially putting no restrictions on immigration to one requiring a deep link to its culture and a set of “desirable” qualities to allow an immigrant to settle down there, even with a Danish spouse. The related institutional and administrative changes have probably had a great impact on immigrants’ participation in civic and other areas.