Does legalizing prostitution increase human trafficking? No.

A study by World Development argued that legalizing prostitution causes more people to be coerced into sex work.

Frida Ghitis: Authors used flawed economic model and abysmal data to reach their conclusion.

She says the study's strongest finding was that human trafficking destinations happen to be countries with democratic governments, not where sex work is legal.

Ghitis says the paper has been widely cited not only in the press but by advocates and lawmakers writing policy.

There's no good reason for the government to interfere with competent adults choosing to exchange money for sexual services.

Sex work criminalization leads to trafficking for the same reason alcohol prohibition in the U.S. created bootleggers.

If the goal is to reduce trafficking, put more resources into enforcing anti-coercion laws.