THE LABOR MARKET IN TERMS OF THE SHADOW DIGITAL ECONOMY

This article examines the shadow digital economy (SDE), a growing phenomenon amid digital transformation and rising information costs. We review technical and economic definitions and propose an integrated definition of the SDE. The study offers the first systematic analysis of labor markets and the qualitative traits of participants in this criminal ecosystem. We identify a structured set of labor‑market roles within the SDE model. We analyze institutional traps that sustain shadow employment and show how the SDE perpetuates informal and illicit labor arrangements. The paper proposes a clear classification of criminally oriented products and services. We introduce a concise conceptual model of a “shadow” project for designing SDE products or services organized by criminal groups, detailing participant roles and project composition. Specialized services that require further study are grouped and highlighted. Our findings indicate that SDE activity extends beyond direct financial loss, eroding consumer trust, damaging brand reputation through data breaches, fraud, and counterfeiting, and posing risks to national security. The study ends with policy implications and recommendations for periodic evaluation and integration of AI‑related risks into financial governance.