Social security payments are typically thought of as being aimed at those who are not in paid work, whether because of age, ill health, caring responsibilities or involuntary unemployment
Recent UK economic history has been characterised by high levels of unemployment, coupled with a high nominal Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR).
Much interest has recently been expressed in the scope and growth of the black economy, and several estimates of its size have been presented, which invariably receive wide coverage in the press and elsewhere
