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<p>Human trafficking is a global problem and there are a multitude of factors that have contributed to its expansion. Increased trafficking intersectionality with organized crime and terrorist networks is threating U.S. national security, and unfortunately, many of the solutions are too broad to be applied to microeconomic markets. 
This study uses system dynamics to model Las Vegas’s commercial sex market and an exploratory qualitative approach models policy changes within the system. This study examines prostitution legalization, prostitution abolition, and a hybridization of both while investigating improved victim advocacy and resilience education. 
While demand is driving the market, the current U.S. prostitution criminalization policy disproportionately punishes suppliers of sex. This paradigm is stigmatizing sex workers and exacerbating trafficking victimization. Additionally, policies solely aimed at reducing prostitution will likely increase the number of sex trafficking victims if sufficient demand exists. Therefore, a combination of policies targeted at comprehensively reducing supply and demand may be the most effective method at diminishing sex trafficking in Las Vegas. Through this study’s modeling, it appears that a combination of abolition and resilience education have the best results, but Nevada policy makers must continue to study the nuances of the market to ensure future policy effectiveness.
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<br>Subjects: human trafficking; sex trafficking; commercial sex market; prostitution; pimp; Las Vegas; legalization; abolition; Nordic; hybrid; victim advocacy; resilience education; system dynamics; modeling policy change; supply; demand; victims; tourism; sex tourism; brothel; product; supplier; wholesaler; retailer; consumer</div>
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King, Jeremiah D.</div>
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