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Economies of Desire: Sexuality and the Sex Industry in the 21st Century

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  • Catherine Hakim

Abstract

New data from sex surveys confirm that demand for commercial sex is based on permanent disparities between male and female desire, and is therefore ineradicable. Demand and supply are growing, facilitated by economic growth, the Internet, globalisation and changing sexual attitudes. A key objection to the sex industry is that pornography, lap dancing and prostitution promote rape and other kinds of violence against women. However, the evidence contradicts this contention. The commercial sex industry is impervious to prohibitions and cannot be eliminated. Laws which constrain sellers of sexual services or criminalise purchasers are not evidence-based, and are bound to fail, wasting public resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Hakim, 2015. "Economies of Desire: Sexuality and the Sex Industry in the 21st Century," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 329-348, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecaffa:v:35:y:2015:i:3:p:329-348
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ecaf.12134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Oksana Nezhyvenko, 2018. "Informal Employment in Ukraine and European Union Transition Countries," Erudite Ph.D Dissertations, Erudite, number ph18-03 edited by Philippe Adair.

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