How was the black market like in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation?

Question

Hi, I've been trying to find out how a black market functioned during the JO in Singapore. Was there a fixed place to meet? Is it something like a night market, where a lot of people go to, to get something they need? Does that mean that it was really crowded? Could anyone just bring something there, like a fountain pen, and try to sell it? And wasn't the black market prohibited by the Japanese? If so, how could they go there to buy stuff? What was the punishment for working in the black market? Please describe how the black market works to me! If possible, include some websites too.. xP Thanks! :) Help will be greatly appreciated. :D

Answer 1

A black market is not a place. It's a system. It means that people buy and sell commodities illegally. Black markets always exist when something is rationed.  

In Singapore during the Japanese occupation, food and other commodities were in very short supply and strictly rationed. This means that people would be willing to pay high prices to get more than their ration. You might be able to do this in the normal shops. If you paid the shopkeeper enough money, he would be able to find what you wanted.

There were also thousands of people who made a living by hawking goods on the street, and even door-to-door salesmen. So the black market was everywhere.

The black market was so rampant because of corruption among Japanese officials. They would deliberately hoard supplies of food in order to drive up the price. The city's traders would then have to pay bribes to the Japanese in order to get hold of these scarce commodities. Both the traders and the Japanese officials stood to make a nice profit, because of the high prices.

So although the black market was illegal, it was secretly encouraged by Japanese officials, who were making money off it through bribes.

Here are some links which provide more information about the black market in Singapore (just look for "black market" and you'll find a few paragraphs or sentences):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_oc...

http://library.thinkquest.org/10414/japa...

http://countrystudies.us/singapore/8.htm

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_NLQA... (page 128)

Answer 2

The Singapore Black market would have functioned as all underground markets functioned being beyond the law . I could not find any specific information regarding your question - good luck .

:0)