Abstract
Sex workers have historically faced harm from clients. However, sex workers have claimed that internet platforms, such as Craigslist erotic services (ERS), reduced that violence. Using the staggered rollout of ERS for identification, we find that it is likely that ERS reduced female homicides by between 12 and 18 percent and (reported) female rape offenses by between 7 and 9 percent. We hypothesize that this was due to more transactions occurring indoors, better screening efforts, and more efficient matching. Our results suggest that some internet platforms may mitigate the historical risks sex workers have faced.
- Received June 1, 2019.
- Accepted September 1, 2021.
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In this issue
Jump to section
- Article
- Abstract
- I. Introduction
- II. CDA, Craigslist, and Associated Opposition
- III. ERS and Market Participant Safety
- IV. Description of Data
- V. Did Craigslist Affect the Structure of Sex Services Market?
- VI. Did Craigslist Increase Market Participant Safety?
- VII. TWFE Bias, Matrix Completion, and Falsifications
- VIII. What Might Be the Mechanism Linking ERS to Reduced Female Violence?
- IX. Discussion and Conclusion
- Acknowledgments
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Supplemental
- Info & Metrics
- References
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