Lifting the Veil: The Unintended Consequences of the Legalization of Prostitution

Researchers examining prostitution and trafficking in the sex industry have polarized views on the consequences of the legalization of prostitution. Some researchers have asserted that prostitution is hardly a choice, alluding to the possibility that most incidents of prostitution occur due to force, fraud, or exploitation. Others have argued that the prohibition of prostitution leads to the creation of underground markets for trafficking for sexual exploitation. Relatedly, it has been suggested that a likely solution to the problem of trafficking in the sex industry is the legalization of prostitution. As calls for legalization increase, it becomes pertinent to examine the likely unanticipated consequences of legalization before large scale legalization is implemented in multiple countries across the globe. The current study utilizes an overarching norms-based approach to identify potential unintended consequences at both macro as well as micro levels.