Black market facts for kids

A black market in Shinbashi in 1946.

The black market is the trade of goods illegally. Black markets operate outside the normal economy. The black market is different from the so-called Grey market, where goods are traded legally, but outside the common channels.

In some cases, the goods or services are cheaper than on the normal market, because taxes or production costs do not need to be paid - very often the goods traded were stolen. In other cases, the price on the black market is higher, because the goods are difficult to get, and producing or handling them may be dangerous.

As with legitimate trade, the economic principles are still that of a market: supply and demand influence the price.

Related page

• Smuggling

Images for kids

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  A black market salesman (fly by night) depicted in graffiti in Kharkiv, Ukraine (2008)

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  Barcelona 2015

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  Mercado Negro, so called "Black Market", in La Paz, Bolivia.

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  A tower of confiscated smuggled weapons about to be incinerated in Nairobi, Kenya

See also

In Spanish: Mercado negro para niños