The economics of the commercial sex industry

1.1 Number of consumers Since males, particularly single or divorced males, are the main demanders of commercial sex, an increase in their numbers can increase the demand for commercial sex. An increase in the numbers of postpubertal males can occur for a number of reasons, including high median age at marriage, prolonged postpartum abstinence, and migration. A number of factors can lead to a high median age at marriage, which creates a large potential demand for commercial sex. One important factor in increasing median age at marriage is polygyny, which is common in much of West and Central Africa. In these regions 40 per cent to 50 per cent of married women are in polygynous marriages. Consequently, men marry 10 years later than women and at any time 50 per cent of postpubertal males have never married (Caldwell et al 1993). In those countries in which bride-price must be paid, high bride wealth payments delay marriage for men and encourage high rates of prostitution (Caraël et al 1987). In those parts of Asia that have been developing rapidly, rapid increases in education and school enrolment have accounted for increases in the median age at marriage (Hirschman 1985; Brien and Lillard 1994). Where sex outside of marriage for males is sanctioned, these increases in education and median age at marriage have increased the demand for commercial sex. In much of sub-Saharan Africa there is a prohibition on female sexual activity during pregnancy and for long periods after the birth of a child. The economics of the commercial sex industry