{"id":712,"date":"2017-05-04T23:09:27","date_gmt":"2017-05-04T23:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/theamericasblog\/?p=712"},"modified":"2017-05-04T23:09:27","modified_gmt":"2017-05-04T23:09:27","slug":"the-economics-of-human-trafficking-in-latin-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/theamericasblog\/2017\/05\/04\/the-economics-of-human-trafficking-in-latin-america\/","title":{"rendered":"The economics of human trafficking in Latin America"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s a harsh reality behind human trafficking: it can\u2019t be isolated from the context nor the day-to-day perils of Latin America\u2019s economy. While some people see it as just another crime \u2013considerably, more shocking than others\u2013 and look for immediate solutions \u2013higher sentences, more vigilance and stronger Police force\u2013, analysts and policy makers around the world understand that there are close ties between human trafficking and economic and social crisis. So, although it has to be dealt with the same intensity as drugs and arms trafficking, it also has to call for deeper and multidisciplinary measures.<\/p>\n

A common element in human trafficking is the poor economic performance of the countries of origin. A recent study published by the Harvard Political Review deepened on the emigration phenomenon in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which shows the evident relation between the \u201cdeteriorating conditions in the region\u201d and the desire to escape them. This desire has caused increasingly riskier ways of emigrating and, therefore, a greater possibility of human trafficking.<\/p>\n

These three countries have to deal with a high homicide rate, extreme poverty, and a lack of health and education resources. Inadvertently, conditions such as these promote labor informality and, consequently, low tax revenue. As the study from the Harvard Political Review shows, this situation resembles a \u201charmful cycle\u201d for governments. Relatively weak administrations have to deal with tougher threats.<\/p>\n

Under these conditions, human trafficking seems almost a natural consequence. And, evidently, this situation doesn\u2019t limit itself to the region of Central America. Criminal organizations all around Latin America are taking advantage of social urgent needs and are making human trafficking one of the three largest crime industries; data from CNN report a profit of US$32 billion per year.<\/p>\n

As we have noticed, human trafficking doesn\u2019t come out of nowhere. It comes out of the desire to escape poor life conditions. So, what are the options to fight this phenomenon?<\/p>\n

Countries are obliged to change the minds of citizens. Policies have to go hand in hand with economic improvement. Most likely, this will depend on loans \u2013and higher government debt\u2013, since the people won\u2019t increase their tax payments. And, evidently, security measures will have to increase and get tougher. Just enough for foreign investors to regain trust on the private sector. Let\u2019s be honest: it\u2019s a long shot but it\u2019s a bet that governments have to make.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n