ABSTRACT

We document how prostitution markets reacted to the Covid-19 induced lockdown mid-March 2020, based on unique data for the Netherlands and Belgium. Anecdotal evidence indicates that a general glut occurred. Data about who exited from the market indeed reveal a severe downturn. We also show a significant substitution toward less visible forms of sex work after the lockdown too. Furthermore, in the Netherlands compliance was more swift and thorough than in Belgium. For those who kept supplying sexual services, fixed effects hedonic regressions provide evidence that sex workers invested more time per transaction, but this did not translate in a higher income. Existing wage penalties for vulnerable age groups and ethnic minorities stayed in place, but were not exacerbated by the lockdown.

抽象的

根据荷兰和比利时的独特数据，我们记录了卖淫市场对Covid-19导致的2020年3月中旬封锁的反应。轶事证据表明普遍出现过剩现象。有关谁退出市场的数据确实显示出严重的下滑。在锁定之后，我们还显示出对看不见的性工作形式的重大替代。此外，与比利时相比，荷兰的合规性更加迅速和彻底。对于那些一直提供性服务的人，固定效应享乐回归提供的证据表明，性工作者每笔交易花费了更多时间，但这并没有带来更高的收入。弱势年龄段和少数族裔的现行工资处罚措施仍然存在，但并没有因为封锁而加剧。