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Modern day slavery: What drives human trafficking in Europe?

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  • Hernandez, Diego
  • Rudolph, Alexandra

Abstract

This paper examines the determinants of human trafficking victim inflows into European countries based on identified victim numbers. We use a gravity-type model to acknowledge data reporting shortcomings. Our empirical results suggest that human trafficking occurs within well-established migrant and refugee corridors and that victims are more likely to be exploited in host countries with weak institutions. Legislation on prostitution activities does not influence victim inflows. Liberalization of border controls intensifies trafficking flows. We find no effect of host countries' acceptance rates of asylum seekers. We conclude that effective policies against human trafficking require sound institutions and a focus on the entire trafficking-chain/channel from source to host countries.

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  • Hernandez, Diego & Rudolph, Alexandra, 2015. "Modern day slavery: What drives human trafficking in Europe?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 118-139.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:38:y:2015:i:c:p:118-139
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2015.02.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Gallegos Torres, Katia, 2023. "The 2015 refugee inflow and concerns over immigration," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Niklas Potrafke, 2016. "Policies against human trafficking: the role of religion and political institutions," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 353-386, November.
    3. Willert, Bianca, 2021. "Modern Slavery – An Empirical Analysis," Thuenen-Series of Applied Economic Theory 167, University of Rostock, Institute of Economics, revised 2021.
    4. Rauscher, Michael & Willert, Bianca, 2020. "Modern slavery, corruption, and hysteresis," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Tantawy Moussa & Amir Allam & Mahmoud Elmarzouky, 2023. "An examination of UK companies' modern slavery disclosure practices: Does board gender diversity matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5382-5402, December.
    6. Magris, Francesco & Russo, Giuseppe, 2016. "Fiscal Revenues and Commitment in Immigration Amnesties," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 75-90.
    7. Michael Rauscher & Bianca Willert, 2019. "Slavery, Corruption, and Institutions," CESifo Working Paper Series 7944, CESifo.
    8. Sonnabend, Hendrik, 2015. "Good Intentions and Unintended Evil? Clients’ Punishment in the Market for Sex Services with Voluntary and Involuntary Providers," EconStor Preprints 110682, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Hatton, Timothy J., 2023. "Asylum recognition rates in Europe: Policies and performance," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Oasis Kodila-Tedika & Martin Mulunda Kabange, 2016. "Slave trade and Human Trafficking," Research Africa Network Working Papers 16/002, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    11. Ángela García-Alaminos & Fabio Monsalve & Jorge Zafrilla & Maria-Angeles Cadarso, 2020. "Unmasking social distant damage of developed regions’ lifestyle: A decoupling analysis of the indecent labour footprint," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Tantawy Moussa & Amir Allam & Mahmoud Elmarzouky, 2022. "Global modern slavery and sustainable development goals: Does institutional environment quality matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2230-2244, July.
    13. Carola Lingaas, 2022. "Directing the Legal Radar at Forced Labour—Under Special Consideration of Male Victims in Norway," Laws, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, April.
    14. Majeed, Muhammad Tariq & Malik, Amna, 2017. "Selling Souls: An Empirical Analysis of Human Trafficking and Globalization," MPRA Paper 88850, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Robert G Blanton & Shannon Lindsey Blanton & Dursun Peksen, 2020. "Confronting human trafficking: The role of state capacity," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 37(4), pages 471-489, July.
    16. Tezcan, Barış & Maass, Kayse Lee, 2023. "Human trafficking interdiction with decision dependent success," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    17. Sonnabend, Hendrik & Stadtmann, Georg, 2018. "Good intentions and unintended evil? Adverse effects of criminalizing clients in paid sex markets with voluntary and involuntary prostitution," Discussion Papers 400, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Department of Business Administration and Economics.
    18. Rauscher, Michael & Willert, Bianca, 2019. "Slavery, corruption, and institutions," Thuenen-Series of Applied Economic Theory 164, University of Rostock, Institute of Economics.
    19. Winkler,Stephen Joseph, 2021. "Human Trafficking: Definitions, Data, and Determinants," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9623, The World Bank.
    20. Silvia Angeloni & Francesco Maria Spano, 2018. "Asylum Seekers in Europe: Issues and Solutions," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 473-495, May.
    21. Amenta, Carlo & Di Betta, Paolo & Ferrara, Calogero, 2021. "The migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea: Empirical evidence on policy interventions," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    22. Sam R. Bell & Victoria Banks, 2018. "Women's Rights Organizations and Human Trafficking," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(1), pages 362-376, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human trafficking; Gravity model; Illegal migration; International organized crime;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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