Shadow work can be described as the various forms of work that exist outside the formal economy or within the informal economy. Social sciences play an important role in bringing attention to the dangers, harms and difficulties experienced by individuals working in the informal economy. Social scientists have recognized that facts do not speak for themselves and often require analysis and interpretation to produce meaning. This is especially true when dealing with shadow work and therefore social scientists have developed concepts, theories and values ​​to aid the analysis and interpretation of facts. A number of different concepts have been identified to aid in interpreting the facts about shadow work, some of these are power, risk, social structure and agency. While all of these concepts attempt to interpret the facts about shadow work, their approaches and the results generated differ significantly. In this essay I will compare and contrast these concepts by looking at how they are used in the course's case studies to interpret the facts about shadow work. I will use the block method to write an essay as outlined in week 13.5.1 "structuring your essay". I will begin by examining the concepts of power, agency, and risk. The concept of “Power” can be described as the ability to act and can be understood in two related but distinct forms, as “power over” something exercised by one actor at the expense of another and as “power to” or ability to act and take control of your situation. The next “agency” is the ability to act freely according to one's choices and desires. While the concept of risk or "rational risk actors" indicates people who have the ability to recognize and manage their exposure to risk. (Mythen, G 2012, ...... half of paper ...... to be used to help theorize the extent to which different types of workers have different capacities to exercise power and agency over their own lives. Works Cited Mythen , G (2012). PAFRAS) University of Leeds and University of LiverpoolSanders,T. (2005) Sex Work: A Risky Business, Collompton,(Devon),Willan.Bungay, V., Halpin, M., Atchison, C. and Johnson, C. (2011) 'Structure and agency: reflections from an exploratory study on Vancouver Sex Workers", Culture, Health and Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care, vol 13Habermas, J. (1984) The Theory of Communicative Action: Lifeworld and System, Boston, MA, Beacon Press