Fracking and risky sexual activity

This paper examines the impact of the U.S. fracking boom on local STI transmission rates and prostitution activity as measured by online prostitution review counts. We first document significant and robust positive effects on gonorrhea rates in fracking counties at the national level. But we find no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health economics 2020-07, Vol.72, p.102322-13, Article 102322
Main Authors: Cunningham, Scott, DeAngelo, Gregory, Smith, Brock
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Economic shock
Fracking
Gonorrhea
Health administration
Health economics
Health problems
Prostitution
Public health
Risky behavior
Sex
Sex industry
Sex ratio
Sexual behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted infections
STD
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Summary:This paper examines the impact of the U.S. fracking boom on local STI transmission rates and prostitution activity as measured by online prostitution review counts. We first document significant and robust positive effects on gonorrhea rates in fracking counties at the national level. But we find no evidence that fracking increases prostitution when using our national data, suggesting sex work may not be the principal mechanism linking fracking to gonorrhea growth. To explore mechanisms, we then focus on remote, high-fracking production areas that experienced large increases in sex ratios due to male in-migration. For this restricted sample we find enhanced gonorrhea transmission effects and moderate evidence of extensive margin effects on prostitution markets. This study highlights public health concerns relating to economic shocks and occupational conditions that alter the local demographic composition.
ISSN:0167-6296
1879-1646
DOI:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2020.102322