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Black Market Industry and Contraband Products
About the numbers The numbers utilized by Havocscope are taken from various public documents, such as newspapers and government studies. Each figure is attributed to a source which allows our readers to follow up on. Our documentation methods is fully listed on the Research Methods page. There are several key issues iregarding the numbers that we collect, and we would like to take this time to fully disclose them. As the numbers are based on black market activities, the numbers will include a high level of uncertainty. A majority of the figures will be based on estimates and will be difficult to verify. Also, the figures listed in the Index only represent numbers that are available and does not represent the full extent of the activity. The figures, especially for the country markets, should not be seen as a full representation of the market size, but rather as a snapshot of currently available information. In addition, the manner in which the original source determined the figure is not always available. Some publications explain the manner in which it determined its calculation, while others simply report a figure. The number may be estimated losses, or it may be the amount spent on the actual contraband product. Therefore the consistency in the figures and the standards of collection do not line up perfectly. Havocscope actively attempts to minimize the inconsistency of the numbers and tries to utilize respectable sources. However, it must be said that due to the nature of the black market, we will at times be wrong in our information and mistakes will made. It would be dishonest and unethical if we attempted to pretend that our numbers will always be accurate and precise. The numbers will never be 100 percent accurate. Mistakes will be made and we will always put forth the effort to minimize them as much as possible. If the figures are vague and often wrong, why create an index based on uncertain numbers? It is a very important question that lies at the heart of what we do, and we hope that we can properly answer this question. First, we wanted to create a simple, centralized location to access information of the black market. As easy as it is to find stock prices, weather conditions, and baseball statistics, we wanted to create a similar research tool for black market activities. By centralizing the information, we believe that it creates the foundation for further research and study. Interested parties can follow up to the original source and the discussion of the activities will hopefully be clearer and precise. Secondly, we hope our index will assist in the creation of creating standards and benchmarks. It is our goal that the figures listed in our index will become the standard benchmark for all to use. Only when stakeholders are all working off of the same information will the discussion be focused and progress made. And lastly, it is our ultimate goal here at Havocscope to educate the public on the extent of these markets. Although the figures are estimates at best, these figures do represent what the policy makers and law enforcement personnel are acting off of. Regardless of whether the numbers in our index accurately reflect the financial value of the black market, actual money is being spent on these activities. Tax revenues are being used to fund law enforcement, profits are being diverted to enhance security procedures, and donations and grants are given to NGOs to tackle these activities. With the amount of money being spent in the black market, as well as the amount of money being spent to contain it, we at Havocscope believe that it is essential for the public to be educated about the activities that are occurring.
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