Informal or shadow sector of the Ukrainian economy exceeds the official and is the largest among the CIS countries and the former socialist camp, senior scientific worker of the Institute of Sociology under the National Science Academy Olha Ivashchenko told during a press conference on Thursday on the occasion of presentation of data of the Institute's long-standing project.

"Austrian economist Schneider, who over 30 years is engaged in studying the world of informal economies, believes that the share of the informal economy in Ukraine makes up to 56%. By the way, it is the highest level in all post-Soviet countries and the former social camp," she said.

The scientist noted that the informal sector exists in any economy and usually is from 12 to 15 percent. In particular, according to American researchers Alekseev and Fine, the level of the informal economy in the Soviet Union reached 25%."I.e., it will be incorrect to say that the informal economy grew suddenly - it has its historical continuity," Ivashchenko noted.

She added that presently quite many people are working informally, i.e. without concluding an agreement and payment of taxes, for cash, not only in the shadow, but also in the official sector of the economy.

UKRINFORM