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Quashing Demand Criminalizing Clients? Evidence from the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Della Giusta, Marina

    (University of Turin)

  • Di Tommaso, Maria Laura

    (University of Torino)

  • Jewell, Sarah

    (University of Reading)

  • Bettio, Francesca

    (University of Siena)

Abstract

We discuss changes in the demand for paid sex accompanying the criminalization of prostitution in the United Kingdom, which moved from a relatively permissive regime under the Wolfenden Report of 1960, to a much harder line of aiming to crack down on prostitution with the Prostitution (Public Places) Scotland Act 2007 and the Policing and Crime Act of 2009 in England and Wales. We make use of two waves of a representative survey, the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal2, conducted in 2000-2001 and Natsal3, conducted in 2010-2012) to illustrate the changes in demand that have taken place across the two waves. We do not find demand decreasing in our sample and find a shift in the composition of demand towards more risky clients, which we discuss in the context of the current trends towards criminalization of prostitution.

Suggested Citation

  • Della Giusta, Marina & Di Tommaso, Maria Laura & Jewell, Sarah & Bettio, Francesca, 2019. "Quashing Demand Criminalizing Clients? Evidence from the UK," IZA Discussion Papers 12405, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12405
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Francesca Bettio & Marina Della Giusta & Maria Laura Di Tommaso, 2017. "Sex Work and Trafficking: Moving beyond Dichotomies," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 1-22, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Backus & Thien Nguyen, 2021. "The Effect of the Sex Buyer Law on the Market for Sex, Sexual Health and Sexual Violence," Economics Discussion Paper Series 2106, Economics, The University of Manchester.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    criminalization; prostitution; demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C35 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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