Fight Against Global Illicit Economy Turns Dark as Size and Growth Remain Unknown

  • world economic forumThe value of the global illicit economy is regularly placed at over $1 trillion. However, data is often out of date, sometimes by more than 10 years.
  • This lack of information, and lack of coordination in fighting it, has encouraged illicit trade to proliferate, according to a new paper by the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Illicit Economy
  • Technology offers many solutions to tackling crime, but poses challenges too. Other best practices include harmonization of databases and better global coordination across agencies.
  • More information about the Summit on the Global Agenda 2015 is available here: http://wef.ch/gac15

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 October 2015 – The illicit economy is a giant, global and growing problem, a new paper by the World Economic Forum Meta-Council on the Illicit Economy shows. But as the widely varying estimates of its cost show, the illicit economy needs to be measured before it can be combatted.

“You need to know your adversary in order to beat it, and sadly there is lack of clarity around the threat of the illicit economy,” said Jean-Luc Vez, Head of Public Security Policy and Security Affairs, World Economic Forum. “Measuring the illicit economy in a more coordinated and synchronized way thus is the first step global governments and business should take.”

The value of the illicit economy is estimated to be upwards of $1 trillion. Estimates on counterfeiting, one of its largest components, vary from $250 billion (similar to Ireland’s GDP) to $1.77 trillion (similar to Canada’s GDP). Compounding this variability is the fact that almost all estimates are out of date: most often by five or six years but sometimes by more than a decade (see graph below for more info).

Criminal organizations have exploited the gaps in our governance capacity and policy in addressing the illicit economy, the paper further indicates. Often more sophisticated and technologically advanced, they are winning the technological arms race against governments in many economies, especially in the developing world.

“The proliferation of illicit activities shows no signs of slowing. It grows particularly in regions where there is lack of governance and social structure. Hence, in an era where several regions in the world are vulnerable and politically unstable, efforts to address these underlying issues must be made,” said Adam Blackwell, Chair of the Meta-Council on the Illicit Economy.

The Meta-Council has identified several key areas where all sectors can play a role in curtailing the damage of the illicit economy:

  1. To develop a common or harmonized database of knowledge and information exchange
  2. Businesses to employ technologies that allow an appropriate level of information to be shared with the public and law enforcement agencies
  3. Better coordination across organizations in joint operational initiatives
  4. Aligning fragmented governance with new concepts around the role of business and individuals

Figure 1: Most recent estimate of global illicit economy (Source: Global Agenda Council on Illicit Economy, IGF)

In addition, the Meta-Council notes in its paper that technology has been effective in fighting crime in a number of areas. Big data has been used, for example to uncover sex traffickers in the United States. Combined with satellite imaging, this has had an impact on curbing illegal deforestation. Satellites, meanwhile, are used to tackle illegal fishing while drones have been employed in the war against poaching. DNA could soon be brought to bear in this fight, too, with forensic laboratories able to link stolen ivory to specific animals.

The Co-Chairs of the Summit on the Global Agenda 2015 are Sultan Bin Saeed AlMansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates and Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman, Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi.

Most recent estimate of global illicit economy (Source: Global Agenda Council on Illicit Economy, IGF