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Does criminalizing the purchase of sex reduce sex-buying? Evidence from a European survey on prostitution

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  • Sofia Jonsson

    (University of Bergen)

Abstract

Whether to criminalize or legalize the purchase of sex has given rise to heated discussions and different policy initiatives. Opponents of the criminalization of sex-buying argue that prohibition pushes the sector underground, increasing the harm for women in prostitution. Proponents instead view prostitution as violence against women, calling for prohibition. Despite these debates, few studies examine the effect of prostitution laws on the quantity of sex bought. By employing unique data on attitudes to, and experiences of sex-buying behaviour in different prostitution regimes in eight European countries, the paper examines the relationship between prostitution law and sex-buying. The results are robust to the inclusion of a list experiment, and the findings suggest that people living in countries where purchasing sex is criminalized buy less sex than people living in countries where sex-buying is legal.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Jonsson, 2023. "Does criminalizing the purchase of sex reduce sex-buying? Evidence from a European survey on prostitution," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 91-115, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:56:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10657-023-09778-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-023-09778-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Commercial sex; Prostitution law; Gender; List experiment; Social desirability; Social norms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J88 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Public Policy
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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