Tax amnesty and the sale of government bonds through supermarket chains could represent effective tools for attracting money from the underground economy into the official circuit, according to Frames analysts, citing Italy’s experience as a possible model for Romania.
The analysis emphasizes that Romania’s new government faces an urgent financial challenge, namely to combat the underground economy and attract tens of billions of euros from tax evasion.
Although Romania has implemented tax amnesties in the past, they have failed to repatriate money from the underground economy. Examples from Italy, Spain, and Germany demonstrate the effectiveness of such measures. Transforming government obligations into vouchers accessible at cash registers would facilitate investments and reduce dependence on external loans. However, implementation requires the development of digital identity validation systems to prevent money laundering.
Such a strategy could generate significant financial flows, but it requires political will and institutional courage.