The shadow economy as a threat to the economic security of the state

Abstract

The relevance of scientific research is determined by the need to substantiate the specifics of the impact of the shadow economy as a polysystemic phenomenon, inherent in any national economic system, on the economic security of the state. The purpose of the work was to study the size, trends of the shadow economy in Ukraine and its impact on the economic security of the state in order to form the directions of unshadowing the economy as a necessary condition for the accelerated economic growth of Ukraine. The methodical approach used for the implementation of the specified research goal is based on a combination of an integral, indicator, graphic method and a method of comparative analysis of assessments of the shadow economy and the level of economic security of the state. It has been proven that the shadow economy is a real threat to the economic security of the state, the destructive influence of which, in the case of its excessive spread, increases in the conditions of fluctuations in the market situation and economic instability. The problems of the asymmetric influence of the shadow economy on the formation of the business environment in Ukraine are considered. A direct inverse relationship between the level of shadowing of economic activity and the level of economic security of Ukraine was revealed. It has been proven that the scale of the shadowing of the national economy of Ukraine is threatening and particularly dangerous. Emphasis is placed on the need to develop and implement the policy of unshadowing and decriminalising the economy. Recommendations are provided as to unshadowing the economy in the direction of the formation of a favourable security-oriented business environment by overcoming the deep sources of the development of shadow socio-economic processes in order to minimise threats to the economic security of Ukraine. The results of the scientific work, as well as the conclusions formulated on their basis, can be used in the improvement of the state policy of ensuring the economic security of Ukraine in conditions of the European integration and increasing influence of global challenges