Global Agenda October 2015 State of the Illicit Economy Briefing Papers

The document examines the growth of the global illicit economy, noting that counterfeiting alone could cost the global economy $1.77 trillion in 2015. It highlights how criminal networks exploit gaps in governance and leverage technology, such as the Dark Web and cryptocurrencies, to facilitate trade. The paper emphasizes the role of the private sector in inadvertently enabling these activities through financial conduits and online marketplaces. It proposes several solutions, including the use of big data, satellite tracking, and DNA analysis, and calls for a harmonized global database and better policy coherence. A detailed section on minerals suggests creating an 'ASM Matrix' to map risks in artisanal and small-scale mining to transition illicit operations into the formal economy.

• The illicit economy has experienced unprecedented growth, with counterfeiting and piracy estimated to cost the global economy $1.77 trillion in 2015, representing nearly 10% of global merchandise trade.
• Illicit trade significantly funds global terrorism and criminal networks; for example, the illegal trade in wildlife and natural resources is valued up to $213 billion annually, exceeding the $135 billion provided in official development assistance in 2014.
• Human trafficking is a major component of the illicit economy, with approximately 21 million victims of forced labour generating illegal profits of at least $150 billion.
• Private sector entities often serve as unwitting conduits for illicit trade, including major US banks used for human smuggling and online marketplaces like Alibaba used for the sale of counterfeit goods and dual-use items for nuclear programmes.
• Criminal organizations are utilizing advanced technology, including the Dark Web, Tor software, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, to create anonymous and sophisticated e-commerce marketplaces for illegal drugs.
• To combat the illicit mining and trading of minerals, the document proposes an 'ASM Matrix' to map risk areas for artisanal and small-scale mines (ASMs) and transition them into the formal economy through transparency and reporting.
• Technological innovations are being deployed to fight illicit trade, including the use of big data for uncovering sex traffickers, satellite tracking for illegal fishing via the 'Eyes on the Seas' project, and DNA analysis to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

APA

World Economic Forum (2015). Global Agenda October 2015 State of the Illicit Economy Briefing Papers. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Illicit_Economy_2015_2.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Global Agenda October 2015 State of the Illicit Economy Briefing Papers. 2015. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Illicit_Economy_2015_2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Global Agenda October 2015 State of the Illicit Economy Briefing Papers |date=October 2015 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Illicit_Economy_2015_2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2015global, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Global Agenda October 2015 State of the Illicit Economy Briefing Papers}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = oct, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Illicit_Economy_2015_2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }