Research Paper on:
Philippines' Sex Industry and Economics

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
something awful and to residents it is also a negative as the country has a vast religious presence and the people feel pulled into the industry due to impoverished conditions.  In the Philippines, there are probably close to half a million prostitutes who live there ("Sex industry," 1998). There are special tourist agencies and escort services as well  as special clubs and more (1998). The sex industry accounts for somewhere from 2 to 14 % (1998, p.65) of Gross Domestic Product and money made creates income for many  beyond the prostitutes. One study noted that most women are in the industry for economic reasons (1998). Indeed, the Philippines is a poor country and sex work pays  well. The increasing problem of prostitution that exists in the Philippines today emanates primarily from dire poverty as well as from a lack of employment for women  ("The Philippines," 2003). While some may contend that the government should do something about the problem, it seems that the government is a part of the problem. Government authorities  have collected substantial revenues in regions where prostitution thrives; sometimes money is obtained illegally from bribes and corruption, but they even get money legally from licensing fees and taxes on  hotels, bars, and restaurants ("Sex industry," 1998). There is a feminist advocacy group in the nations midst called SIBOL and it has been active in lobbying Congress ("The  Philippines," 2003). Although the government claims it has engaged in a "high-profile crackdown" on prostitution and child abuse, activists have been concerned that the governments attempt to ameliorate the problem  is more of a public relations effort than a serious attempt to alter the situation (2003). Local police have shut down bars and some foreign tourists have faced charges