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Prostitution 2.0: The changing face of sex work

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  • Cunningham, Scott
  • Kendall, Todd D.

Abstract

The use of Internet technology for solicitation by sex workers has raised important legal and regulatory questions. We provide a description of the new institutions that facilitate prostitution online, and their potential market effects. We then supply some of the first evidence on several key parameters of interest to policymakers. First, we find that workers who solicit online largely represent growth in the overall prostitution market, as opposed to simple displacement of the off-line, street-focused market, although we find sizeable displacement effects among sex workers in their 30s and 40s. Using a newly-implemented survey, we also find that most sex workers who solicit online engage in lower-risk behaviors than traditional street-based workers; however, workers close to the margin for migration from outdoor work bring riskier business and sexual practices with them as they enter the off-street-sector.

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  • Cunningham, Scott & Kendall, Todd D., 2011. "Prostitution 2.0: The changing face of sex work," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 273-287, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:69:y:2011:i:3:p:273-287
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    Cited by:

    1. Immordino, G. & Russo, F.F., 2015. "Regulating prostitution: A health risk approach," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 14-31.
    2. Knittel, Andrea K. & Graham, Louis F. & Lopez, William & Snow, Rachel C., 2018. "Criminal justice involvement among young adults exchanging sex in Detroit," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-11.
    3. Marlin-Bennett, Renée & Thornton, E. Nicole, 2012. "Governance within social media websites: Ruling new frontiers," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 493-501.
    4. Anita Ghimire & Fiona Samuels & Sarmila Mainali, 2021. "Changing Patterns of Commercial Sex Work Amongst Adolescent Girls in Nepal: The Role of Technology," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(5), pages 1390-1408, October.
    5. Peter Egger & Andreas Lindenblatt, 2015. "Endogenous risk-taking and physical appearance of sex workers," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 16(9), pages 941-949, December.
    6. He, Guojun & Peng, Wenwei, 2022. "Guns and roses: Police complicity in organized prostitution," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Scott Cunningham & Manisha Shah, 2018. "Decriminalizing Indoor Prostitution: Implications for Sexual Violence and Public Health," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(3), pages 1683-1715.
    8. Cunningham, Stewart & Sanders, Teela & Scoular, Jane & Campbell, Rosie & Pitcher, Jane & Hill, Kathleen & Valentine-Chase, Matt & Melissa, Camille & Aydin, Yigit & Hamer, Rebecca, 2018. "Behind the screen: Commercial sex, digital spaces and working online," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 47-54.
    9. Jones, Benjamin A., 2022. "Dust storms and violent crime," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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