History Main / BlackMarket

The archetypal example probably being the vast array of illicit transactions which occurred in [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront Great Britain during World War II]]; in that particular case, it was rationed food-types which were being bought and sold.

* Asian countries are known to have bootleg vendors that operate out in the open. In Seoul, South Korea, a lot of the street markets will have bootleg DVD's being freely sold. These vendors are often gracious enough to have a small TV and DVD player available to ensure their quality.

* Pretty much anything that's technically legal but has a lot of restrictions on it can easily become a part of this. Cigarettes / tobacco is a good example. With the taxes so high on packs of legal cigarettes, there's a thriving black market in people who buy cheap tobacco from stores, roll in tubes and then sell it. This also applies in general to stuff in the United States that has only been restricted in certain states, or just certain locales. If you want to have fun, try also searches for stuff like "black market light bulbs" (incandescent bulbs being phased out) or "black market plastic bags" (i.e. the California ban on plastic grocery bags.) Fireworks is another good one, for example, certain states have laws saying you can buy certain types of fireworks, but can't set them off, or vice versa.

This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges. The black market goods may be offered in a private, invitation-only section of a [[LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub innocuous-seeming front business]], which looks normal except for the 6'4" [[Trope/Bouncer]] at the door.

This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges. The black market goods may be offered in a private, invitation-only section of a [[LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub innocuous-seeming front business]], which looks normal except for the 6'4" {{Trope/Bouncer}} at the door.

This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges. The black market goods may be offered in a private, invitation-only section of a [[LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub innocuous-seeming front business]].

In RealLife, the term is generally used to describe the encompassing gestalt: a collection of individuals and covert operations which can be spread across a wide geographic range, dealing in goods which may be entirely illegal (such as hard drugs, weapons, and military gear), or legal but regulated (such as prescription drugs and rationed goods), or entirely legal but acquired illicitly (such as stolen goods or goods that FellOffTheBackOfATruck). The archetypal example probably being the vast array of illicit transactions which occurred in [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront Great Britain during World War II]]; in that particular case, it was rationed food-types which were being bought and sold. This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges.

In RealLife, the term is generally used to describe the encompassing gestalt: a collection of individuals and covert operations which can be spread across a wide geographic range, dealing in goods which may be entirely illegal (such as hard drugs, weapons, and military gear), or legal but regulated (such as prescription drugs and rationed goods), or entirely legal but acquired illicitly (such as stolen goods). The archetypal example probably being the vast array of illicit transactions which occurred in [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront Great Britain during World War II]]; in that particular case, it was rationed food-types which were being bought and sold. This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges.

HonestJohn, TheScrounger, TheRat, and obviously the FriendInTheBlackMarket, and possibly an undercover
cop doing TheInfiltration will often be found thriving in this environment, but they'll just be manning one of the (literal or metaphorical) stalls; the ultimate power will usually be in the hands of TheSyndicate. Unless it all comes full circle, and the whole thing is just another branch of TheEmpire...

HonestJohn, TheScrounger, TheRat, and obviously the FriendInTheBlackMarket will often be found thriving in this environment, but they'll just be manning one of the (literal or metaphorical) stalls; the ultimate power will usually be in the hands of TheSyndicate. Unless it all comes full circle, and the whole thing is just another branch of TheEmpire...

In RealLife, the term is generally used to describe the encompassing gestalt: a collection of individuals and covert operations which can be spread across a wide geographic range, dealing in goods which may be entirely illegal (such as drugs as weapons), or legal but regulated (such as prescription drugs and rationed goods), or entirely legal but acquired illicitly (such as stolen goods). The archetypal example probably being the vast array of illicit transactions which occurred in [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront Great Britain during World War II]]; in that particular case, it was rationed food-types which were being bought and sold. This is often the case in fiction as well, but sometimes you will encounter a ''literal'' Black Market, a [[WelcomeToEvilMart covert shopping emporium]] complete with merchants hawking their dubious wares from established stalls. This latter type is often a subset of the BazaarOfTheBizarre, with ''everything'' for sale and the outright illegal stuff lurking around the edges.

HonestJohn, TheScrounger, TheRat, and obviously the FriendInTheBlackMarket will often be found thriving in this environment, but s/he'll just be manning one of the (literal or metaphorical) stalls; the ultimate power will usually be in the hands of TheSyndicate. Unless it all comes full circle, and the whole thing is just another branch of TheEmpire...

** '''Janel:''' "I want to know how you resell stolen bull semen... is there a bull semen black market?"
** '''Jessica:''' "I don't know how you fence bull semen."
** '''Janel:''' "Somebody's like, you know, I could get these cows knocked up legitimately, or we could hit the black market."

* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. As shown in the episode of that name, there's a thriving black market dealing in everything from fresh fruit to antibiotics and child trafficking. Even Apollo argues that the black market is necessary and should be allowed to continue as long as it stops doing ObviouslyEvil stuff like the latter. Given that the difference between legitimate and illegitimate trade in a post-apocalyptic society was ill-defined, Creator/RonMoore regarded this as lazy writing, with the child trafficking thing put in as a KickTheDog to make the black marketeers the villains.

** Another episode had Father Mulcahy and Winchester visiting black marketeers to try and negotiate for medical supplies.

* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. As shown in the episode of that name, there's a thriving black market dealing in everything from fresh fruit to antibiotics and child trafficking. Even Apollo argues that the black market is necessary and should be allowed to continue as long as it stops doing ObviouslyEvil stuff like the latter. Given the difference between legitimate and illegitimate trade in a post-apocalyptic society was ill-defined, Creator/RonMoore regarded this as lazy writing with the child trafficking thing put in as a KickTheDog to make the black marketeers the villains.

* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. As shown in the episode of that name, there's a thriving black market dealing in everything from fresh fruit to antibiotics and child trafficking. Creator/RonMoore pointed out that in a

as the difference between legitimate and illegitimate trade in a post-apocalyptic society was ill-defined, so the child trafficking thing was a KickTheDog

* Due to ExecutiveMeddling ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' churned out a [[{{Filler}} Filler Episode]] about the black market on the Colonial fleet which was very poorly received. One common interpretation which emerged said that the market did exist, selling luxury goods, food and even people, but that none of the events involving Lee Adama and his sudden, melodramatic angst [[CanonDisContinuity actually happened.]]

* In a famous GunPorn scene in ''Film/TaxiDriver'' a smooth-talking salesman offers handguns from a suitcase to the protagonist along with anything else he might want, such as drugs or a stolen Caddilac. He refuses the latter but buys himself a small arsenal. The scene gets homaged in ''Film/GodBlessAmerica'' and ''Film/DeathSentence''.

* In ''Film/DaleksInvasionEarth2150AD'' (1966) a black marketeer exchanges food for gold and jewelry that's been picked up in the abandoned villages of Britain, even though [[FridgeLogic such things would now be worthless]].

A Black Market is an established "underground" economy which deals in the transfer of illicit goods, the exact nature of which will vary wildly depending on era and location. TheEmpire may be actively trying to stamp it all out, or taking its cut under the table and vigilantly [[BigBrotherIsWatching looking]] in some other direction. The stuff for sale may be [[VendorTrash worthless crap]], [[SchmuckBait lethally dangerous]], [[{{Unobtainium}} genuinely useful]], or, most likely, a mixture of all three. But you're going to pay through the nose, and when you arrive to pick up your purchase, it might be a good idea to [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption come armed]]. Or send [[FriendInTheBlackMarket someone who knows what they are doing.]]

* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has a "Gray Market" that will purchase alien corpses and artifacts, and indeed some items like wrecked alien devices from downed [=UFOs=] are nothing but VendorTrash. During your EarlyGameHell, it can be a primary source of income - just don't ask what your buyers are doing with all those dead [[TheGrays Sectoids]] or "alien entertainment" systems.

* At the start of ''VideoGame/DigimonStoryCyberSleuthHackersMemory'' you rescue your starter Digimon and two others from a black market dealer mistreating them. Later on he gives you access to the [=DigiMarket=] where you can buy Digimon off the dark web from him and his partners.

* The [[WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons Tex Avery short]] ''Jerky Turkey'' has the pilgrim getting a turkey from the "Black Market", which is [[VisualPun a deli market that is painted black]] and hidden behind a curtain painted to resemble the scenery.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', the Boiling Isles have the Night Market. Eda visits it to get some potion to stave of her curse when her usual apothecarist is out, and a flashback in the finale shows [[spoiler:that Lilith got the owlbeast curse from a stall there.]]

* ''Mindstar Rising'' by Creator/PeterFHamilton is set in an AlternateHistory Britain recovering from a left-wing dictatorship. Philip Evans, the CEO of Event Horizon, describes how he had consumer goods built in [[CityOnTheWater cyber-factories outside Britain's territorial waters]], which were then smuggled in by stealth aircraft and distributed via an army of spivs. He says the biggest problem was the goods were paid for by bartering fruit or fish, which then had to be exchanged by another organisation of spiv for gold, silver or diamonds which were then smuggled out of the country.

** Klau is discreetly willing to sell any vibrianium that he either smuggles out of Wakanda in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', or finds through misidentified artifacts in ''Film/BlackPanther2018''.

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', District 12 has the Hob, which operates out of an abandoned coal warehouse. [[spoiler: until it goes up in flames]].