Instructional Video

The Underground Economy

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Can you believe there's a whole economy underneath the official economy? If you've ever sold lemonade, babysat children, or bought a bike at a swap market, you may have participated in the underground economy, also known as the informal economy. High schoolers watch an economics video to learn more about the activities included in the informal economy, as well as the ways the informal economy can be beneficial — or hazardous — for its employees.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Incorporate into a unit about employment and compensation
  • Create a class list of jobs that may or may not be part of the informal economy, and have learners conduct additional research on their job of choice
Classroom Considerations
  • Watch out for the comment section, as it contains several opinions about various economic and political concepts
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Shows both sides of the arguments regarding working off the books
  • Animations are engaging and helpful
Cons
  • None