“Does Competition Eliminate Discrimination? Evidence from the Commercial Sex Market in Singapore”

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 Caucasians (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.

If you are interested in meeting with or joining the speaker for lunch, please send email to Seminars AT ccpr.ucla.edu

10:30 am – 11:00 am : Prof. Mosche Buchinsky (8373 Bunche Hall)

11:00 am – 11:30 am : Prof. Manisha Shah ( 6333 Public Affairs Bldg.)

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Seminar

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Proseminar Lunch: Carolina Arteaga, Amanda Nguyen, Lena Reiss

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Sarah Reber

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Prof. Leah Boustan (9262 Bunche Hall)

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Prof. Till von Wachter (9367 Bunche Hall)

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Prof. Randall Akee (6367 Public Affairs Bldg.)