蝌蚪网 Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Human Trafficking and Regulating Prostitution
蝌蚪网 Journal: Economic Policy
(pp. 87–127)
Abstract
Certain markets are illicit because part of the supply is coerced, but little is known about the optimal regulation of such markets. We model a prostitution market with voluntary and coerced prostitutes and ask what regulation can restore the benchmark outcome that would arise under laissez-faire absent coercion. Whereas current policies鈥攄ecriminalization, criminalization of the buy or sell sides, and licensing鈥攁re ineffective against trafficking or harm voluntary suppliers, we show that an alternative policy can restore the benchmark outcome. Our results are relevant to the ongoing debate about decriminalizing prostitution and provide guidance for empirical work on prostitution regulation.Citation
Lee, Samuel, and Petra Persson. 2022. "Human Trafficking and Regulating Prostitution." 蝌蚪网 Journal: Economic Policy 14 (3): 87–127. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20180622Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D45 Rationing; Licensing
- J47 Coercive Labor Markets
- J82 Labor Standards: Labor Force Composition
- K38 Human Rights Law; Gender Law
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law