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Sex work and online platforms: what should regulation do?

Author

Listed:
  • Nick Cowen
  • Rachela Colosi

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose is to assess the impact of online platforms on the sex industry, focusing specifically on direct sex work, and evaluate what approaches to platform regulation is likely to align with the interests of sex workers. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a review of interdisciplinary conceptual and empirical literature on sex work combined with analysis of key issues using a transaction cost framework. Findings - Online platforms generally make sex work safer. Regulation aimed at preventing platforms from serving sex workers is likely to harm their welfare. Research limitations/implications - Regulation of online platforms should take great care to differentiate coercive sex from consensual sex work, and allow sex workers to experiment with governance mechanisms provided by entrepreneurs. Originality/value - The paper demonstrates how a transactions costs approach to market behaviour as applied to personal services like ridesharing can also shed light on the challenges that sex workers face, partly as a result of criminalisation, and the dangers of over-regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nick Cowen & Rachela Colosi, 2020. "Sex work and online platforms: what should regulation do?," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(2), pages 284-303, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jepppp:jepp-03-2019-0009
    DOI: 10.1108/JEPP-03-2019-0009
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sex work; Transaction costs; Online platforms; FOSTA-SESTA; Feminism; Common carriers; E26; L14; L84; L86; Y80;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L84 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Personal, Professional, and Business Services
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • Y80 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines - - - Related Disciplines

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