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.