The size of the “unobserved” economy, i.e. the black economy, has decreased in all regions of Italy, with the exception of Molise. This is supported by the artisans of Mestre who recall how it is made up of under-declaration, irregular work and other undeclared activities. According to CGIA data, there are also two ways of evaluation: the calculations reveal that illegality is at the top in Calabria in terms of propensity and in Lombardy in terms of impact. At a regional level, from the latest available data, referring to 2021, it emerges that, in absolute value, the most important contractions concerned Lazio with -2.2 billion euros, Lombardy -1.9 billion, Campania with -1 billion and Tuscany with -943 million euros.
For the artisans of Mestre the highest impact of the unobserved economy is recorded in Lombardy with 31.3 billion euros. Lazio follows with 20.9, Campania with 18, Veneto with 15 and Emilia Romagna with 14.8 Differently, if the percentage impact of this social and economic plague on regional added value is taken as a reference parameter ( practically the GDP), the most affected area is Calabria with 19.2 percent. Campania follows with 18, Puglia with 17.6, Sicily with 17.3, Sardinia and Molise both with 16.3.
The estimate of tax evasion, this time understood as unpaid taxes and contributions, is also decreasing. According to MEF data, the CGIA recalls, in 2021 (latest data available) tax and contribution evasion in Italy fell to 82.4 billion euros, of which 72 attributable to tax revenues and 10.4 to contributions. It should be noted that the overall figure decreased by 17.8 billion compared to 2019 (-17.8 percent).
Compliance, electronic invoicing, split payment and reverse charge guarantee more revenue. And to further combat evasion, according to the CGIA, we must continue to reduce the overall tax burden and be inflexible towards those who are completely unknown to the tax authorities. “In the meantime, we believe that to reduce fiscal infidelity and align ourselves with the standards of the European countries less affected by this phenomenon, it is desirable to quickly develop a less aggressive, simpler, more transparent and fairer tax system, rewarding those who produce, who creates employment and generates wealth, while at the same time guaranteeing sufficient revenue to make the state machinery work and to help those in difficulty”.