Say "No" to Black Economy

What is black economy? Black economy is economy where it usually involve cash transactions dealing where it become untraceable and thus untaxable business dealing. In a way it is illegal as this mean country government unable to collect the tax amount according to law.

There are many reason why black economy exist and will continue to exist. For some, it is because they claim that the taxes are too high or some law regulations are too difficult making it easier to resort to illegal method. For trader, it is opportunity to make money while for consumer it is because it is cheaper .

So why say No to black economy?

From a buddhist perspective:
1.  breaking the precept of lying - Perhaps many are not aware. but when one are involve in black economy, it mean that someone will have to make a fake document or report for the missing transaction. So in a word , someone will have to lie to government. and in buddhist teaching, even a small evil act committed could bring the consequences of ending up in hell in future lifetimes. Therefore this is not an action should be done by those who wish to leave the three evil path and enter the heaven and above. 

2. tax generate merit - In sutra , it is said that contributing taxes to country will generate tenfold merit in return. So by participating in black economy , one will generate less merit than one suppose to be.

3. cheated the entire country people who will benefit from the tax . In buddhist teaching, it is said that should a government official cheated the tax payer money, it is in fact that the official is actually creating karma debt with the entire country people who are suppose to entitle for the money. That is a lot of people one is owning and has to paid in the future. so the author do think that it is possible that the same kind of negative karma is created similar to the official government . the retribution of not paying debt to others is rebirth as animal where most animals in this earth at the present time are subject to be "meat".

4. Greed - trying to earn more by avoiding paying taxes is a sign of greed.

5. "Never tell a lie.Anyone who can tell you the slightest of lie is also capable of any evil. - Buddha"
https://quotefancy.com/quote/1706559/Buddha-Never-tell-a-lie-Anyone-who-can-tell-you-the-slightest-of-lies-is-also-capable-of



From non-buddhist perspective:

1. it is illegal - Why risk getting punishment for doing illegal trading ? and end up ruining one reputation and one good future ?

2. the tax are meant to benefit the entire country people - by avoiding paying tax, this will create difficulty to the people in the country as it mean less fund to support the welfare of the entire country citizen. so for most traders and consumers, this mean that it is their own country people will has less benefits than they suppose to get. This could create an unforseen disadvantage circumstances to those who are participate in black economy as well as the entire country.

3. Purchases from black economy product mean that goods bought are non returnable and non claimable as the receipts are not traceable. This also mean that should the goods become faulty and in certain cases such as electrical product which suddenly gone wrong and has causes injury to others human being. No compensation or lawsuit can be made against the trader as it is not traceable.

4. Selling in the form of black economy already mean that the trader is already commit some form of lying in this sense. therefore the seller character and integrity are in questionable. If the product is highly valuable, most seller will not even consider going for black economy as it bring risk to them.




link:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/black-economy.html


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This post is created as the author found circumstances seem to keep on pulling the author into black economy as a victim and the author believe this will greatly break the author precepts. Therefore  this post is done with the intention of discouraging black economy , and with the hope the merit generate will keep the author out of evil in future and from breaking the precepts.