Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sex Workers' Fees Always Go Up
I arrived in San Francisco in December of 1964. Over four decades I have observed a strange phenomenon among local sex workers (previously known as hustlers). When the slightest economic crisis occurs, their fees go up in a matter of weeks. This is not what I was taught in economics 101, but sex workers may have taken more advanced courses.
When the economy falters, home sellers and car dealers lower their prices
When the economy falters, home sellers and car dealers lower their prices
to attract customers. Doctors, dentists, and lawyers keep raising their fees, disregarding the state of the economy. For some reason, the sex workers’ customers don’t have the courage to bargain with them, as they would do at a car dealership. Also, clients who seek the services of sex workers rarely share information with each other. Real-estate agents will inform their clients that the market is weak and prices of most houses will go down. Sellers know what is going on in the real-estate market. This does not happen with sex workers.
[A friend of mine who has read the draft added here: “As with doctors and dentists whose services are deemed essential even in a recession, I imagine that sex workers feel that their services are equally essential and not subject to recessionary price deflation. After all, one can defer the purchase of a new house or a new car, but when that sexual urge comes calling it can not be so easily set aside for a few years until the economy makes it through a rough patch. In this sense they may truly have their clients by the balls.” ]
[A friend of mine who has read the draft added here: “As with doctors and dentists whose services are deemed essential even in a recession, I imagine that sex workers feel that their services are equally essential and not subject to recessionary price deflation. After all, one can defer the purchase of a new house or a new car, but when that sexual urge comes calling it can not be so easily set aside for a few years until the economy makes it through a rough patch. In this sense they may truly have their clients by the balls.” ]
The sex workers actions are so abrupt that, if I were superstitious, I would say that they bring about the downturn in the economy.
***
Just before posting the above, I checked with a friend who lives in Los Angeles. There the sex workers’ fees have gone down recently, and “bargain” rates are being offered. Why the difference between the two cities, I don’t know. There is more money in Los Angeles, I am told. But San Francisco has always been more expensive and jobs in general less available. The question I was asked by my friend was whether the sex workers’ fees ever go down. In my San Francisco experience, this has never happened. Once a higher rate has been established it stays in place until the next raise.
***
Just before posting the above, I checked with a friend who lives in Los Angeles. There the sex workers’ fees have gone down recently, and “bargain” rates are being offered. Why the difference between the two cities, I don’t know. There is more money in Los Angeles, I am told. But San Francisco has always been more expensive and jobs in general less available. The question I was asked by my friend was whether the sex workers’ fees ever go down. In my San Francisco experience, this has never happened. Once a higher rate has been established it stays in place until the next raise.
Labels: Sex Workers' Fees During Economic Downturns
