Purpose

This study aims to analyze the trends for crime and STDs after the passage of massage therapist licensing. In 1977, Texas passed a law permitting county-level licensing laws for massage therapists, which was soon followed by a statewide licensing requirement in 1985. This early massage therapy law was upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Massage therapy licensing is commonly associated with preventing crime, specifically prostitution. However, massage parlors also represent an opportunity for entrepreneurs starting businesses, who face significant barriers to entry across the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze the effect of state- and city-level licensing of massage therapists on crime and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases using data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reports from 1985–2013 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1993-2015.

Findings

The authors find that state- and city-level licensing of massage therapists was not associated with preventing crimes related to prostitution or reducing sexually transmitted diseases. This analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that relaxing the stringency of massage therapist licensing would not lead to increases in crime or additional spread of disease while likely encouraging entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to examine the effects of city-level licensing on health and safety of consumers.

中文翻译：

---

以犯罪名义授权按摩治疗师：Harper诉Lindsay一案

目的

这项研究旨在分析按摩治疗师执照通过后犯罪和性病的趋势。1977年，得克萨斯州通过了一项法律，允许县级按摩治疗师获得许可法，此后不久，1985年又在全州范围内实行了许可要求。第五巡回上诉法院维持了这一早期的按摩治疗法。按摩疗法许可通常与预防犯罪（特别是卖淫）相关。但是，按摩院也为创业者提供了机会，他们面临着进入美国的巨大障碍。

设计/方法/方法

作者使用1985-2013年FBI统一犯罪报告和1993-2015年间疾病预防控制中心的数据分析了按摩治疗师在州和市一级对犯罪和性传播疾病的传播的影响。

发现

作者发现，国家和城市一级的按摩治疗师执照与预防与卖淫有关的犯罪或减少性传播疾病没有关系。该分析与以下假设一致：放松按摩治疗师许可的严格性不会导致犯罪率的增加或疾病的进一步扩散，而可能会鼓励创业。

创意/价值

这项研究是第一个研究城市许可对消费者健康和安全影响的研究。