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Estimating Shadow Economy and Tax Evasion: Evidence from Morocco

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  • Nora Angour
  • Mohammed Nmili

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to assess the extent of tax evasion in Morocco for the period from 1985 to 2016. Aware of the difficulty of directly measuring a phenomenon that is hidden by nature, we are opting to use an indirect approach commonly applied in the empirical literature. Hence, we use the MIMIC method, which makes it possible first to estimate the shadow sector economy, and then deduct the tax evasion from it. Our results showed that the average extent of tax evasion and shadow economy in Morocco achieve 6.19% and 38.74% of GDP during the period studied from 1985 to 2016. Also, the tax burden, the rate of openness, the rate of urbanization, the agricultural sector, and unemployment rate are the main determinants of tax evasion in Morocco.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora Angour & Mohammed Nmili, 2019. "Estimating Shadow Economy and Tax Evasion: Evidence from Morocco," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(5), pages 1-7, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ijefaa:v:11:y:2019:i:5:p:7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Friedrich Schneider & Mangirdas Morkunas & Erika Quendler, 2021. "Measuring the Immeasurable: The Evolution of the Size of Informal Economy in the Agricultural Sector in the EU-15 up to 2019," CESifo Working Paper Series 8937, CESifo.
    3. Friedrich Schneider & Mangirdas Morkunas & Erika Quendler, 2023. "An estimation of the informal economy in the agricultural sector in the EU‐15 from 1996 to 2019," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(2), pages 406-447, March.
    4. Dagmara Nikulin & Ewa Lechman, 2021. "Shadow Economy in Poland: Results of the Survey," SpringerBriefs in Economics, in: Shadow Economy in Poland, chapter 0, pages 49-65, Springer.
    5. Bennihi, Aymen Salah & Bouriche, Lahcene & Schneider, Friedrich, 2021. "The informal economy in Algeria: New insights using the MIMIC approach and the interaction with the formal economy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 470-491.

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    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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