A free market is the only "natural" economy for any population larger than an extended family group (small tribe?).
"Black Markets" are 100% unfettered, market economies, and they crop up whenever any population reaches some critical mass, and/or when they are prevented from engaging in free markets by force (governments).
Anything that is made illegal by law exists as a free-market commodity. Guns, drugs, whatever.
"Fair wage" laws are BS. It's arbitrary. What you claim is required to raise a family is arbitrary. Look at housing in the US (we all did with the bubble, didn;t we). Americans live in bigger houses than they did when I was a kid. People seem to have nicer cars, too. Expectations are higher. My family growing up was well off. We lived in an expensive town in Connecticut near NY. My dad was a very high-level executive in the publishing industry. Our house was big—big enough—but guess what, my house now is bigger. We had pretty normal cars growing up. My family now has expensive euro-cars. My family as a kid took vacations that were either sort of low-key (driving trips, motels, etc), or rarely flew places. My kids have never stayed in a hotel without a concierge and turn down service, LOL.
My family may not be entirely typical, but guess what, average square footage of houses is absolutely way up. My dad's house as president of a major publishing company in the 70s and 80s was no bigger than the standard decent neighborhood tract home here in ABQ now—and unlike new homes never had central AC, granite counters, or all kind of other cool perks.
So again, what is the standard for "fair?" Living a frugal lifestyle of someone in the 1970s? Should a "fair wage" allow you to have broadband? Cable TV? heck, TV at all?
Bottom line is people are worth exactly what they are paid in a free market, no more. If you want to make 60 grand a year instead of 30 grand, get another 30k job and work nights—as I said, most people I know that make good wages work well over 60 hours a week, and many might only work 60 now, but did their time working 80+ hours for years (I did for around 10 years).
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