Understanding Child Sex Trafficking by Use of Victim-Level Data

Martina Björkman Nyqvist, Maria Kuecken, Eliana La Ferrara and Elsa Artadi

Economic Development and Cultural Change, 2025, vol. 73, issue 3, 1501 - 1526

Abstract: We use unique survey data from former victims of child sex trafficking and vulnerable girls in shelters in the Philippines to study the predictors of becoming a victim of trafficking and provide insights about this understudied group. Key predictors include household composition, especially the number of older sisters, and negative rainfall shocks in the year before leaving the home. We also provide descriptive evidence on expectations before leaving the home and on experiences during trafficking. Behaviorally, trafficking victims show similar patience levels but are more risk-loving. These findings can inform policies to prevent trafficking and the design of reintegration programs.

Date: 2025
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