Democracy, corruption and the shadow economy | U!REKA online-lecture series: Democracy under threat
Democracy is one of the ‘core values’ of the European Union. Together with the rule of law and human rights, it forms the normative basis for open, inclusive and just societies committed to tolerance, solidarity and non-discrimination. However, scholars and commentators have been speaking about a ‘crisis of democracy’ for decades, and it appears that this crisis has magnified in the last years.
In our online lecture series, we analyse the present moment and discuss what conditions it – in economic, political, socio-cultural, technological and ecological terms. And in so doing, we explore what democracy is, and what it could be, how it is threatened and why and what can be done to defend and extend it in a sustainable way.
07/12/2026, 12:00-13:00 (CET)
Democracy, corruption and the shadow economy: Do countries that look more corrupt actually have larger shadow economies?
Corruption is commonly measured through perceptions, but how closely do those perceptions correspond to economic behavior? This lecture examines the relationship between perceived corruption, institutional trust and the size of the shadow economy across countries. It asks whether countries that appear more corrupt also display more informal economic activity and explores what divergences between perception and economic evidence can tell us about institutional legitimacy, tax morale, and democratic governance.
Speaker: Fernando C. Gaspar (Polytechnic University of Lisbon)
Chair: Raul Gschrey (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences)
Target Group
Lectures are open to everyone interested in questions of democracy and especially to all members of U!REKA universities including students and life-long learners.
Registration
is required – please click here. The online links will be provided by email together with the confirmation of the registration.