black market
The term 'mercado negro' in Spanish translates to 'black market' in English. It is used to refer to a type of economic activity where goods or services are sold illegally. These goods or services can be illegal in themselves; for example, drugs or weapons, or they could be legally available goods but sold in an illegal manner such as without paying taxes or surpassing government regulations. The term is used globally and is not unique to Spanish-speaking regions.
Stolen goods often end up on the black market.
This phrase refers to the common illegal practice where stolen goods are sold, often through hidden or untraceable routes, typically known as the black market or 'mercado negro' in Spanish.
The black market for organs is a serious problem in some countries.
This example talks about the illegal trading of human organs, which is a real and serious issue in certain parts of the world. The 'mercado negro' here refers to the underground, illegal marketplace where these illicit transactions occur.
In times of war, the black market can flourish with the shortage of supplies.
This sentence refers to war times when the demand for certain goods can exceed their supply, leading to the inadvertent creation of a black market or 'mercado negro'. Such markets often sell goods at inflated prices because of their scarcity and the risk involved in procuring them.