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America's Black Markets

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photoNobody wants to talk about it but it exists and it's growing. In his new book "Reefer Nation," the author of "Fast Food Nation" Eric Schlosser goes inside America's illicit, enormous underground economy that is booming on pot, porn and illegal labor.

America's black markets, he says, have nearly doubled in size since the 1970s and make up for almost 8-10 percent of the country's current GDP. And it is the lack of government regulations for the exploited and too much faith in the free-market economy that accounts for such an explosion in America's black markets.

Click the "Listen" link to hear more about how drugs, sex and illegal labor are boosting America's underground economy and what is fueling its growth.

Guests:

Eric Schlosser, author of the new book "Reefer Madness." He's also author of "Fast Food Nation";Randall Kennedy, On Point guest news analyst and professor of law at Harvard University

This program aired on May 6, 2003.

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