scholarly journals The Economic Consequences of Decriminalizing Sex Work in Washington, DC—A Conceptual Model

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Amanda Srsic ◽  
Katarzyna Dubas-Jakóbczyk ◽  
Ewa Kocot

(1) Under repressive policies, sex workers are at disproportionate risk for violence and sexually transmitted infections. The decriminalization of sex work provides increased social and health benefits to both sex workers and society. This is the first research that complements human rights-based messages with a quantifiable economic impact of such a law and a model for future calculations. (2) This research assesses the potential economic consequences of decriminalizing sex work in the District of Columbia (DC) in three areas: (A) income tax revenue, (B) criminal justice system savings, and (C) health sector savings (due to averted cases of violence, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes). (3) An economic model is developed and utilized based on data from a literature search and agency records. (4) Decriminalizing sex work in DC will generate USD5348.68 per sex worker and USD2.53 per client annually, plus USD20,118.48 in criminal justice system savings a year. Per sex worker, USD5058.08 will be gained from income tax revenue, and USD290.60 will be generated through health sector savings (USD274.65, 0.02, 15.64, and 0.29 from averted cases of violence, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes, respectively). Per client, decriminalization will generate USD0.05, 2.32, and 0.16 from averted cases of HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes, respectively, or USD8462.35 annually, after considering the total number of clients. Estimates are reported in 2020 USD. (5) The potential economic impact of decriminalizing sex work is widespread. The presented model, in conjunction with a rights-based foundation, should urgently be used by advocates, sex workers, decision makers, and other researchers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Srsic ◽  
K Dubas-Jakóbczyk ◽  
E Kocot

Abstract Background Under repressive policies, sex workers are at disproportionate risk for violence, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. The decriminalization of sex work between consenting adults provides increased social and health benefits to both sex workers and society at large. Proponents of decriminalization advocate for these added human rights; this is the first research that complements these arguments with a quantifiable economic impact of such a law and a model for future calculations. This research assesses the potential economic consequences of decriminalizing sex work in the District of Columbia (DC) in three areas: (1) income tax revenue, (2) criminal justice system savings, and (3) health sector savings (violence, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes). Methods An economic model is developed and utilized based on a literature review and records from local and federal agencies. Results The decriminalization of sex work in DC will generate $5,191.61 per sex worker and $2.49 per client annually, plus an additional $20,118.17 in total criminal justice system savings a year. Per sex worker, $4,906.39 will be gained from income tax revenue, and $285.46 will be generated through health sector savings. Per client, decriminalization will generate $0.05, $2.28, and $0.16 from HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes respectively, or $8,311.67 annually after considering the total number of clients. Estimates are reported in 2019 US dollars. Conclusions The potential economic impact of decriminalizing sex work is widespread. In DC, this legislation should be implemented to not only promote the city's human rights but also economic growth. The presented model, in conjunction with a rights-based foundation, should urgently be used by advocates, sex workers, decision-makers, and other researchers. Key messages An economic analysis of a policy to decriminalize sex work in DC demonstrates its widespread economic impact across sectors. The economic model generated in this research should be utilized in other regions to strengthen human rights-based arguments in support of these policies.


Author(s):  
Vipin Vijay Nair ◽  
Sandra Anil Varkey

Trafficking of persons, primarily women and children, is one of the growing social dilemmas concerning global society today. Not only is human trafficking a highly sensitive and polarizing subject, but it is also considered a common norm in many countries. Many women recruited into commercial sex work are coerced into the profession exploiting their financial and economic condition but continue to work in the profession to survive through easy money. The chapter focuses on a theoretical framework for understanding the victimization of female sex workers. It also reflects various lacuna in the present criminal justice system and law enforcement mechanism in criminalizing victims within the sex work industry. The chapter narrates the voices of commercial sex workers in India over the prejudices and criminalization by various laws and regulations towards their consensual sex work. The chapter recommends sensitization training and awareness amongst various stakeholders of the criminal justice system.


Author(s):  
Zahra Stardust ◽  
Carla Treloar ◽  
Elena Cama ◽  
Jules Kim

Discourse on sex work is replete with narratives of risk and danger, predominantly focused on violence and disease. However, the risks instigated by police, maintained by the criminal justice system and sanctioned by the state—criminal laws, licensing laws and targeted policing—receive far less attention. This paper responds to this gap in three ways. First, we examine how stigma manifests in sex workers’ experiences of Australian policing, which act to disincentivise sex workers from accessing criminal legal mechanisms. Second, we illustrate how sex workers are denied victim status as they are seen by law as ‘irresponsible citizens’ and blamed for their experiences of crime. Third, we argue that these factors create conditions in which sex workers must constantly assess risks to access safety and legal redress while structural sex work stigma persists unabated. We conclude that ‘whore stigma’ is entrenched in the criminal legal system and requires a systematic response that necessitates but goes beyond the decriminalisation of sex work.


Author(s):  
Rayner Kay Jin Tan ◽  
Vanessa Ho ◽  
Sherry Sherqueshaa ◽  
Wany Dee ◽  
Jane Mingjie Lim ◽  
...  

AbstractWe evaluated the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the sex work industry and assessed how it has impacted the health and social conditions of sex workers in Singapore. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods study amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from April to October 2020, including in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders from the sex work industry and surveyor-administered structured surveys with 171 sex workers. COVID-19 had a substantial impact on sex workers' income. The illegality of sex work, stigma, and the lack of work documentation were cited as exclusionary factors for access to alternative jobs or government relief. Sex workers had experienced an increase in food insecurity (57.3%), housing insecurity (32.8%), and sexual compromise (8.2%), as well as a decrease in access to medical services (16.4%). Being transgender female was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.08, 1.41]), housing insecurity (aPR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.03, 1.60]), and decreased access to medical services (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.23, 2.46]); being a venue-based sex worker was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.00, 2.13]), and being a non-Singaporean citizen or permanent resident was positively associated with increased housing insecurity (aPR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.73, 3.85]). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has led to a loss of income for sex workers, greater food and housing insecurity, increased sexual compromise, and reduced access to medical services for sex workers. A lack of access to government relief among sex workers exacerbated such conditions. Efforts to address such population health inequities should be implemented.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Buzdugan ◽  
Shiva S. Halli ◽  
Jyoti M. Hiremath ◽  
Krishnamurthy Jayanna ◽  
T. Raghavendra ◽  
...  

HIV prevalence in India remains high among female sex workers. This paper presents the main findings of a qualitative study of the modes of operation of female sex work in Belgaum district, Karnataka, India, incorporating fifty interviews with sex workers. Thirteen sex work settings (distinguished by sex workers' main places of solicitation and sex) are identified. In addition to previously documented brothel, lodge, street,dhaba(highway restaurant), and highway-based sex workers, under-researched or newly emerging sex worker categories are identified, including phone-based sex workers, parlour girls, and agricultural workers. Women working in brothels, lodges,dhabas, and on highways describe factors that put them at high HIV risk. Of these,dhabaand highway-based sex workers are poorly covered by existing interventions. The paper examines the HIV-related vulnerability factors specific to each sex work setting. The modes of operation and HIV-vulnerabilities of sex work settings identified in this paper have important implications for the local programme.


2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-590
Author(s):  
Vanessa Carlisle

This article interrogates the common sex worker rights’ slogan “sex work is real work,” a claim that yokes sex worker struggles to labor struggles worldwide. This article argues that US-based sex worker rights activism, which relies on the labor rights framework to confront stigma and criminalization, is unable to undo how racial capitalism constructs sex work as not a legitimate form of work. While labor protections are important, sex work offers opportunity for the development of antiwork potentials. Many people engaging in sexual performance or trading sex are already creating spaces where sex work itself exceeds analysis as a job. By foregrounding sex workers’ lived experiences and the theoretical moves of antiracist anticapitalism, antiwork politics, queer liberationists, and disability justice, this article locates sex workers at the nexus of important forms of subjugated knowledge crucial for undermining the criminalization of marginalized people.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhan Subhan ◽  
Ferdian Dwi Cahyo

The purpose of this reseach to compare the income tax revenue of Article 4 paragraph 2 and the number of taxpayers before and after the implementation of PP No.46 of 2013 in the KPP Pratama Pamekasan. The data of this research is quantitative data. Source of data used in this research is secondary data. Source of data used in this research is secondary data. whereas secondary data were the Taxpayer Data and acceptance of Income Tax Article 4 paragraph 2 which is registered in KPP Pratama Pamekasan.Using descriptive analysis, the results showed that the implementation of PP No.46 of 2013 affect the acceptance of income tax article 4 paragraph 2. average growth before the implementation of  PP No. 46 of 2013 amounted to 12.01%, after the implementation of PP No. 46 of 2013 the average growth of after 16.72%. The result is strengthened by the result of paired test of t-test that is 0.000 0,05. So the acceptance of Income Tax Article 4 paragraph 2 increased by 4.71%. Average growth The number of taxpayers has increased. before the implementation of PP No. 46 of 2013 amounted to 25.44% and after the implementation of PP No. 46 of 2013 for the implementation of PP No. 46 of 2013 amounted to 33.80%.


Sexualities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1288-1308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynzi Armstrong

It is well documented that sex workers manage risks in their work – such as the potential for violence and the multiple risks associated with stigma. While sex workers are commonly understood to be a stigmatised population, few studies have considered in depth how stigma operates in different legislative contexts, how it relates to sex-worker safety, and how it may be reduced. Stigma is understood to be exacerbated by the criminalisation of sex work, which defines sex workers as deviant others and consequently renders them more vulnerable to violence. However, as full decriminalisation of sex work is still relatively rare, there has been little in-depth exploration into the relationship between this legislative approach, risks of violence, and stigma. Drawing on the findings of in-depth interviews with street-based sex workers and sex-worker rights advocates, in this article I explore the links between stigma and violence, and discuss the challenges of reducing stigma associated with sex work in New Zealand, post-decriminalisation. I argue that while decriminalisation has undoubtedly benefited sex workers in New Zealand, stigma continues to have a negative impact – particularly for street-based sex workers. Decriminalisation should therefore be considered an essential starting point. However, ongoing work must focus on countering stigmatising narratives, to enable a safer society for all sex workers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Rachmawati Meita Oktaviani ◽  
Pancawati Hardiningsih ◽  
Ceacilia Srimindari

This study aims to examine and analyze the factors affecting income tax revenues with tax compliance as an intervening variable. The study consists of three independent variables that tax penalties, the service tax authorities, and awareness of the taxpayer. While this research is tied in income tax revenues and intervening variable is tax compliance.This study used purpose sampling technique and survey method with questionnaires in collecting data. Respondent were sampled in this study is an individual taxpayer who performs is 120 respondent in Semarang. Research data analysis using multiple analysis with the path analysis.The results showed that the variable tax penalties and service tax authorities an effect on tax compliance, awareness taxpayer has no effect on tax compliance, tax penalties, awareness of taxpayers and taxpayer compliance effect on income tax revenue, the service tax authorities had no effect on tax revenue income. Tax compliance successfully mediate the relationship between the variables of service tax authorities against income tax revenue. Tax compliance  not successfully mediate the relationship between the tax penalties and awareness taxpayer against income tax revenue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-133
Author(s):  
Liya Megawati ◽  
Novian Ekawaty

This study aims to determine how the optimization of income tax revenue carried out by KPP Pratama Karawang Utara, Karawang Regency. To answer this problem, researchers used a descriptive qualitative approach. The object of this research is North Karawang Pratama KPP Regency. The data of this study were obtained from secondary data and interviews conducted at North Karawang North KPP employees. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of the optimization of income tax receipts at North Karawang North Tax Office is not optimal, because there are still obstacles in its implementation. Keyword: income tax, North Karawang North Tax Office


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