This looks like an interesting read

"Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work
by Melissa Gira Grant
From claims that the porn industry now dwarfs Hollywood, to New York Times columnist Nicholar Kristof's live-tweeting of a Cambodian brothel raid, the sex industry is a frequent topic of discussion in mainstream media. But arely do these discussions include sex workers themselves, and rarely do they deviate from the position that sex workers must be rescued from their condition, and the industry simply abolished—a position Kristof advocates.

In Playing the Whore, journalist and former sex worker Melissa Gira Grant turns this position on its head, arguing for an overhaul in the way we think about the sex industry.

Based on ten years of writing and reporting on the sex trade, and grounded in the author's personal experience as a sex worker, community organizer and health educator, Playing the Whore dismantles pervasive myths about prostitution, criticizes the conditions within the sex industry and argues that separating sex work from the “legitimate” economy only harms those who perform sexual labour."

Thinking of ordering it. I found it mentioned on Vice.com from a porn actress that does a column. This is the blurb from the books website. Looks like you can get it on kindle. I liked the last line of the blurb "argues that separating sex work from the “legitimate” economy only harms those who perform sexual labour." Total agree the making the hobby illegitimate opens both to sides unnecessary risk.

"Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work
by Melissa Gira Grant
From claims that the porn industry now dwarfs Hollywood, .............. rarely do they deviate from the position that sex workers must be rescued from their condition, and the industry simply abolished—a position Kristof advocates..................... ...
.............I liked the last line of the blurb "argues that separating sex work from the “legitimate” economy only harms those who perform sexual labour." Total agree the making the hobby illegitimate opens both to sides unnecessary risk. Originally Posted by slink69

Stop for a second, and think about it.
Prostitution is mostly a cash business.
Cash businesses are harder to collect taxes from, even with estimates.
Government has no valid way to estimate how much business a girl does.
Thus, it is not and never will be, a part of the regulated economy.
The "black markets", or hidden economy are always an estimate of a nations total production of goods and services.

This is the study of Macroeconomics.

The result is that governments have a better control of this market by making it illegal (and that's not a sick bird).

JR

Actually, you have it backwards. Without making miral value judgments, but relying only on the business economics themselves, economists would generally agree that legal free market prostitution, even as a regulated business, would generally result in greater price competition, tax collection, and quality improvements in the business. It's analogous to the ideas behind environmental economics policies whereby pollution credits are sold. There are lots of ways things like this have been envisioned, with one being very similar to the Eccie format. It doesn't mean perfection or a lack of need to tweak such regulated arrangements, but by and large they are superior to illegal markets.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~ilr/issues/ILR_98-5_Peppet.pdf

http://www.liberator.net/articles/pr....html#benefits

http://business.time.com/2013/06/18/...-of-the-world/

Actually, you have it backwards. Without making miral value judgments, but relying only on the business economics themselves, economists would generally agree that legal free market prostitution, even as a regulated business, would generally result in greater price competition, tax collection, and quality improvements in the business. It's analogous to the ideas behind environmental economics policies whereby pollution credits are sold. There are lots of ways things like this have been envisioned, with one being very similar to the Eccie format. It doesn't mean perfection or a lack of need to tweak such regulated arrangements, but by and large they are superior to illegal markets.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~ilr/issues/ILR_98-5_Peppet.pdf

http://www.liberator.net/articles/pr....html#benefits

http://business.time.com/2013/06/18/...-of-the-world/ Originally Posted by bartipero

Sorry guy, but you are looking at this as a normal business when it is not. You may be able to tax an established brothel as a business, but individual girls - no. They can decide what they want to do, or not do, as individuals.

If I want to give you $200, just because I like you; you can not be trusted to send the government $30 just because you like them, and the government has no way of knowing that they could collect $30 (@15%) from you.

You are thinking about the normal economic rules. Some things have no rules, except the ones that we make for ourselves.

Sorry you went to the trouble to find references: I didn't even look them up. Years ago I taught this crap.

This is more like an individual artist who paints a picture and keeps it for herself, hidden in the closet: maybe she sells it sometime, and maybe not. If she and the buyer do not talk about it, no one other than her and the buyer will ever know the picture was ever created. Two people benefit, but it is not a part of the national economy. Regulation and taxation are difficult. It is sometimes referred to as the underground economy.


JR

wow...this argument could go on forever!

so can I just say one thing?
Can I borrow it when you are done?
first marijuana......then escorting! we will have a union and get health benefits!

wow...this argument could go on forever!

so can I just say one thing?
Can I borrow it when you are done?
first marijuana......then escorting! we will have a union and get health benefits! Originally Posted by Angel in KC

Yes, and totally loose your independence.

It is an urban legend that the IRS seized the Mustang Ranch brothel and failed; thus, the government can't run a whore house: they sold off the assets. However, it is true that Mikie had Jackson county tried to run Erotic City and couldn't handle it properly. In the end he tried to blame others for his problems and eliminated much of the business possibilities to try to save face.

It is a bad idea for government to be involved in any business.

JR

If only there were other businesses that also take in a lot of cash, we might be able to do some kind of empirical study. Alas the IRS is hamstrung on this one.

pffft

If only there were other businesses that also take in a lot of cash, we might be able to do some kind of empirical study. Alas the IRS is hamstrung on this one.

pffft Originally Posted by Passerby

Try barber shops. The IRS has some very good estimates on how to determine the amount of money a shop generates. The estimates are based on statistical research and have a 90% confidence (which the idiots seem to think is the same as accuracy). The barber can skim a little, but only a little, without being questioned. An audit will depend upon the completeness of the information they have about the shop.

JR

"...Sorry you went to the trouble to find references: I didn't even look them up. Years ago I taught this crap. ..."

Well, then you know the old saying.