Does Competition Eliminate Discrimination? Evidence from the Commercial Sex Market in Singapore
39 Pages Posted: 5 Jun 2018
There are 2 versions of this paper
Does Competition Eliminate Discrimination? Evidence from the Commercial Sex Market in Singapore
Date Written: June 2018
Abstract
The street sex worker market in Geylang, Singapore is a highly competitive market in which clients can search legally at negligible cost, making it ideal for testing Diamond's hypothesis regarding search and monopoly pricing. As Diamond predicts, price discrimination survives in this market. Despite an excess supply of workers, but consistent with their self‐reported attitudes and beliefs, sex workers charge whites (Bangladeshis) more (less), based on perceived willingness to pay, and are more (less) likely to approach and reach an agreement with them. Consistent with taste discrimination, they avoid Indians, charge more and reach an agreement with them less frequently.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Does Competition Eliminate Discrimination? Evidence from the Commercial Sex Market in Singapore
This is a Wiley-Blackwell Publishing paper. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing charges $42.00 .
File name: ECOJ.pdf
Size: 0K
If you wish to purchase the right to make copies of this paper for distribution to others, please select the quantity.
