Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Recession Affects Everyone

The laws of supply and demand… they apply to any industry.

Like so many other businesses, Europe’s largest legalized prostitution industry is having to adapt to the economic downturn. Customers are fewer or more frugal, competition has increased, and more clubs and brothels are offering discounts to drum up business.

Since late 2008, the number of English and American tourists has dropped and the street dynamic has changed, according to one prostitute in her mid-20s who requested anonymity because she did not want her family to know her profession. She still gets customers, she said, but they no longer pay for the extras.

“We have to be a lot more aggressive now,” said the woman, wearing pink jeans and a black corset, who has worked the area for three years. “The customers used to come straight to you. Now they don’t ask you as much.”

Nevertheless, she said, the prostitutes in the area have been sticking to a set minimum price — about euro80 ($110) for sex.

[...]

Though the demand for prostitutes’ services remains strong, the supply has increased as more people lose their jobs and turn to the profession, said Marion Detlefs, of the German prostitution advocacy group Hydra. The result is increased competition, she said.

(6) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1856 hrs
Economy + Foreign Affairs

  1. If these prostitutes want to learn how to make more money, all they have to do is get elected Gov. of WI and then they can tax who ever they want whenever they want. Still, they will have to turn tricks for the trial lawyers. That’s good too because soon they will be the only ones in this state with any disposable income.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2009 at 2131 hrs


  2. Seems to be happening in Vegas, as well.  Not from personal experience, mind you, but the brothel business is down in the state and hookers are going down to Phoenix.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2009 at 0114 hrs


  3. Amazing that a 20 year old european prostitute can figure out how supply and demand affect pricing and the marketplace - but the current POTUS can’t grasp the concept of free market principles.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2009 at 0626 hrs


  4. Well,
    Obama did promise new jobs… One little bill passed in to law and suddenly they can count all the illegal prostitutes as no longer jobless and they can tax the income.  Kind of shocking that it hasn’t already been done by Diamond Jim.  Ardent support of abortion is only a very small step away from legal prostitution anyway.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2009 at 0727 hrs


  5. The 20 year old prostitute runs her own business. Doyle and Barry have only run a business out of their legislative jurisdiction.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2009 at 0809 hrs


  6. I think you meant “going down IN Phoenix”, Dan.  wink

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2009 at 1100 hrs


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