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Fallen women: Recessions and the supply of sex work

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  • Goehring, Grant

Abstract

This paper studies how recessions impact the supply of sex work. I consider a historical recession that affected British cotton textile production, an industry that employed a significant number of women and was geographically localized. To measure the size of the market for sex, I digitized new data on the locations of establishments where sex work occurred across Britain. The recession led to 12 more establishments per 100,000 people in exposed counties, an increase of approximately 20 %. Informal establishments, such as pubs, accounted for three-fourths of the increase while brothels accounted for approximately 25 %. I provide suggestive evidence that an outward shift in supply contributed to the increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Goehring, Grant, 2025. "Fallen women: Recessions and the supply of sex work," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:247:y:2025:i:c:s0047272725001033
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105405
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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