A Theory of Prostitution

@article{Edlund2002ATO,
  title={A Theory of Prostitution},
  author={Lena Edlund and Evelyn Korn},
  journal={Journal of Political Economy},
  year={2002},
  volume={110},
  pages={181 - 214}
}
  • L. EdlundE. Korn
  • Published 23 January 2002
  • Economics
  • Journal of Political Economy
Prostitution is low‐skill, labor intensive, female, and well paid. This paper proposes a marriage market explanation to this puzzle. If a prostitute compromises her marriage market prospects, she will have to be compensated for forgone marriage market opportunities. We discuss the link between poverty and prostitution and show that prostitution may decrease with male income if wives and prostitutes are drawn from the same pool of women. We point to the role of male sex ratios, and males in… 
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364 Citations

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