External publications

International human trafficking: measuring clandestinity by the structural equation approach

Rudolph, Alexandra / Friedrich Schneider
External Publications (2013)

Bonn: Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit / Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA Discussion Paper 7867)

Worldwide human trafficking (HT) is the third most often registered international criminal activity, ranked only after drug and weapon trafficking. The aim of the paper is to measure the extent of HT inflows to destination countries. It proposes the application of the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) structural equation model in order to include potential causes and indicators in one model and generate an index of the extent of HT in destination countries. The resulting measure orders 142 countries between 2000 and 2010 according to their potential of being a destination country based on characteristics of the trafficking process. Finally, the new measure is applied to analyze the consequences of the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol) on the extent of trafficking.