black market cigarettes meaning Illicit cigarette trade Boston's black-market cigarette problem -

While the decline in the number smokers has been greater among the more wealthy, meaning the proportion of smokers who are relatively poor has increased, illegal products are now becoming the norm for smokers across the socio-economic spectrum

Meeting Demand Black markets can meet the demand for goods and services that are unavailable in the formal economy, either due to government restrictions or supply issues

and suppliers want to take advantage of easy border entry, high profit margins, and weak repercussions if caught

Black markets can also flourish during times of war or economic crisis when consumers may have difficulty accessing necessary goods and services through regular channels