The Illegal Economy: from the Perspective of Socioeconomic Reproduction

Abstract

As with painting a picture, perspective is one element in the composition of an image. There are first, second and third plane, the focal point and vanishing point, the latter element providing perspective and depth. That is the point where all the lines that make up an image meet. In this picture of base crime, the foreground consists of the state and market that are also the focal point, the most visible elements of the formal world responsible for public safety. The background is composed of the informal sector and the third level, in the background but drawing attention to itself, is the illegal-criminal sector, which also lies at the vanishing point: socioeconomic reproduction. This element adds depth to the entire image. All lines of the planes mentioned above are directed to and from it. It would seem that it is a major hub that explains the composition of the whole, and that is where the crux of the matter lies

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/rpsp.v1i2.1363