Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
Available at: https://journal.
id/index.
php/griyawidya EISSN: 2809-6797 The Economics of Prostitution:
How Does Prostitution Affect Family Resilience? Risanda A.
Budiantoro1*.
Aulia Rachman1.
Mario R.
Aji2.
Febrianur I.
Putra 3.
Tito A.
Perdana3 Faculty of Economics and Business.
Universitas Negeri Semarang.
Semarang.
Indonesia Faculty of Business and Economics.
Universitas Atma Jaya.
Yogyakarta.
Indonesia Faculty of Economics and Business.
Universitas Dian Nuswantoro.
Semarang.
Indonesia *Email: risanda.
abe@mail.
Submitted: 2025-04-15 Accepted: 2025-07-16 Published: 2025-09-11 DOI: 10.
53088/griyawidya.
Keywords:
Abstract Informal economic Objective: This study aims to formulate an ideal government policy that addresses prostitution comprehensively.
Method: This study applies a qualitative descriptive-normative method.
The data were obtained through secondary sources, document analysis, participatory and direct observations, as well as semi-structured interviews.
Data analysis was conducted using an inductive approach through data reduction, classification, and interpretation.
Triangulation methods were employed to ensure the validity and credibility of the data.
Result: The study reveals that the prostitution business in Indonesia is supported by complex networks involving pimps, sex workers, clients, and other indirect The practice is driven by multiple factors including economic necessity, social vulnerability, low moral awareness, and inadequate family resilience.
Additionally, prostitution has created both positive and negative externalities in the surrounding communities, especially in urban areas.
Implication: This study suggests that government policies must be integrative, addressing not only the legal aspects but also offering economic empowerment programs, family resilience development, and moral education.
The findings highlight the importance of collaboration between state institutions, religious leaders, and community organizations to reduce the dependence on prostitution as a means of livelihood.
Novelty: This research offers a comprehensive framework by linking the economic, religious, and sociological dimensions of prostitution.
Unlike prior studies that focus on a single aspect, this study presents prostitution as a systemic issue within the informal economy that requires a multi-sectoral and ethically grounded policy response.
Economic The economy of Externalities INTRODUCTION Prostitution is a social issue that continues to develop within society and remains difficult to eradicate.
Along with the advancement of technology and media, the modes A 2025.
This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA 4.
Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 through which it is carried out have become increasingly diverse.
In the past, prostitution was conducted in secrecy, but today it can be easily accessed by anyone, at any time and from anywhere (Nurgiansyah, 2.
Various factors, both direct and indirect, contribute to the growing number of individuals choosing prostitution as a profession.
Each worker has their own reasons.
however, the primary goal remains to earn money to meet daily needs (Pascawati, 2.
This situation reflects a dilemma between the economic drive for survival and the personal cost of self-exploitation.
According to Hull.
Sulistyaningsih, and Jones .
, prostitution is a complex socioeconomic problem with uncertain origins.
Nevertheless, its presence remains evident in everyday life, both physically and mentally, whether overtly or covertly.
Prostitution is therefore considered a form of crime that is difficult to manage and prosecute, as it is closely linked to economic factors within social life (Amalia, 2.
The government appears to tolerate this deeply rooted practice in Indonesian society, which poses serious threats to sexual morality, family stability, public welfare, and even presents governance challenges for local authorities (Amalia, 2.
Several earlier studies have explored prostitution from diverse perspectives.
For instance.
Sciortino .
and Lim .
provided insight into the socio-economic and policy frameworks that shape prostitution practices in Southeast Asia.
Other researchers such as Koentjoro .
Amalia .
, and Rosyida & Sadewo .
addressed prostitution in Indonesia through a legal, psychological, and feminist lens.
However, these studies often isolated prostitution from its larger economic ecosystem, overlooking how technological advancement, urban migration, and informal labor dynamics contribute to its In terms of religious and ethical implications, works by Mukramin & Nawir .
and Kenedi .
have examined prostitution within Islamic jurisprudence, underscoring the moral prohibition and social repercussions of sex work.
Nonetheless, few studies have attempted to bridge these moral frameworks with empirical economic data and policy analysis.
The present research advances the state of the art by integrating economic, social, religious, and legal dimensions into a comprehensive analysis of prostitution, offering a nuanced understanding of its underlying causes, persistence, and potential resolutions Arthani, & Citra .
Nugroho, et.
, .
Additionally.
Sari et al.
Big-Alabo .
analyze the intersection of poverty, education gaps, and urban unemployment as structural drivers of prostitution among young women in metropolitan Nonetheless, few studies have attempted to bridge these moral frameworks with empirical economic data and policy analysis.
The present research advances the state of the art by integrating economic, social, religious, and legal dimensions into a comprehensive analysis of prostitution, offering a nuanced understanding of its underlying causes, persistence, and potential resolutions.
Although the issue of prostitution in Indonesia has been widely discussed, most existing studies are limited in scope, primarily focusing on legal, moral, or public health aspects (Benoit, el.
, 2019.
Hansen & Johansson, 2.
These fragmented approaches often overlook the fact that prostitution is deeply embedded within broader socio-economic structures, functioning as part of an informal economy driven by structural poverty, gender inequality, urban marginalization, and technological change.
In addition, limited attention has been given to the role of cultural and religious values in shaping the persistence, perception, and negotiation of prostitution in society (Usman, & Budiman, 2.
This creates a significant gap in the literature, where prostitution is rarely analyzed as an adaptive, organized, and systemic economic network that operates in response to complex and overlapping pressures.
This study aims to address that gap by offering a comprehensive examination of prostitution not only as a moral and legal issue but also as an economic and social It analyzes the dynamics, actors, motivations, and mechanisms of the Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 prostitution business network in Indonesia, highlighting how economic necessity, digital innovation, and weak institutional enforcement interact to sustain the system.
The study further seeks to propose policy recommendations that consider both the socio-economic realities and the religious-cultural context of Indonesian society.
In doing so, it contributes to the development of more holistic, humane, and contextually grounded strategies to reduce the prevalence of prostitution while promoting family resilience and reinforcing shared moral values (Netrawati.
Syukur, & Setiawan, 2.
METHOD
Type and Design This study uses an explorative qualitative approach with a normative study, where this approach is based on the rules of social and religious norms that apply in society along with the applicable laws and regulations, including a comprehensive description.
This is done because the basis for consideration is a dilemma, whereby curbing the prostitution business network can create a negative stigma in society but legalizing the prostitution business network is not ideal.
After all, it can cause negative economic externalities.
This research is expected to be able to comprehensively identify the opportunities and challenges of the existence of a prostitution business network in the Government's decision-making process to socio-economically careful and deep.
Data and Data Sources This study uses secondary data to support the analysis of prostitution business networks that are increasingly prevalent in society.
The data were obtained from various reports, academic publications, and documents issued by institutions involved in regulating and examining prostitution-related issues in Indonesia.
While previous studies have provided valuable insights, many of them tend to focus on specific aspects such as legal frameworks, moral debates, or psychological impacts, often overlooking the broader interconnections between economic drivers, technological developments, and institutional responses.
There is a limited number of studies that examine prostitution as part of a complex socioeconomic phenomenon influenced by multiple and overlapping factors.
By drawing from a diverse range of secondary sources, this study aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the prostitution network and its persistence in contemporary Indonesian This broader perspective is essential for identifying more effective policy responses and uncovering overlooked dimensions of the issue.
Data collection technique This research utilized a qualitative approach with normative-descriptive design, combining legal, economic, and sociocultural perspectives.
The data were collected through secondary sources such as academic literature, government reports.
NGO publications, and media investigations.
To complement documentary analysis, the researchers employed participatory and direct observation of prostitution-related settings and actors, particularly in identified localization areas.
Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with key informants, including former sex workers, pimps, service users, and community members.
Interview protocols were designed to capture the complexity of prostitution practices, the motivations behind participation, the structure of the economic network, and the social interactions among involved parties.
This triangulated methodology allowed for a rich and reliable understanding of the phenomenon, grounded in both empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks.
Data Validity To ensure the credibility and validity of the data, this study employed both source triangulation and technique triangulation.
Source triangulation involved collecting data Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 from multiple stakeholders across different roles in the prostitution networkAisuch as pimps, sex workers, service users, and local residentsAias well as from various institutions including government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Technique triangulation was applied by cross-referencing data gathered through literature review, field observation, and interviews.
This approach enabled the researchers to corroborate findings and mitigate potential biases or limitations inherent in relying on a single method or source.
The use of multiple data sources and methods increased the trustworthiness of the research and enriched the analysis of prostitution as a multifaceted socio-economic Data analysis Data analysis followed a qualitative interpretative framework informed by the Miles and Huberman .
model, which consists of data reduction, data display, and conclusion The process began with transcription and organization of interview data and observational field notes.
These data were then categorized into thematic dimensions such as economic motivation, social stigma, religious conflict, and network structure.
Categorical tables and matrices were developed to identify emerging patterns and relationships among actors, motivations, and institutional responses.
Through iterative analysis and synthesis, the researchers constructed a conceptual map of the prostitution business network and interpreted its implications within the broader context of Indonesian society.
This methodological rigor enabled the study to reveal both the systemic drivers and policy blind spots in addressing prostitution.
RESULT
Factors that cause the rise of prostitution in Indonesia Prostitution remains prevalent in Indonesia and is widely regarded as detrimental to public morality.
The government faces significant challenges in eradicating this practice, as it continues to evolve by utilizing various forms of media as intermediaries .
ee Table .
Technological and informational advances have become a double-edged sword.
While they offer numerous benefits, they are also exploited by sex workers to operate in more discreet and concealed ways.
Today, prostitution increasingly relies on the internet as a primary platform for its activities, as it is perceived to provide greater anonymity and protection from law enforcement raids (Yanto, 2.
Media Website Table 1.
Media of Prostitution Practices in Indonesia Information Used for self-promotion with details like photos, age, rates, and contact Transactions occur via phone, either directly with the sex worker or through a pimp.
Forum More exclusive and interactive than websites.
Requires registration, with limited access to information.
Considered safer due to familiarity among Social Originally for social connection, but misused to promote prostitution.
Now declining in use due to safety concerns.
Application Used for real-time interaction via chat, voice, or video calls.
Transactions are conducted by accessing chat rooms or direct communication.
Source: Malik .
, modified Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 The chain of prostitution activities is quite broad in scope because the parties involved in prostitution can be directly involved in it or not.
Online prostitution is slightly different from the conventional practice of prostitution due to the different media used.
Every worker in prostitution has various reasons that become the basis for carrying out the profession (Table .
To trace a person's background is relatively challenging because the life problems surrounding it are diverse and closely interrelated from one cause to another (Balfour & Allen, 2.
However, broadly speaking, the existing factors can be formulated, among others:
Table 2.
Factors Causing the Practice of Prostitution in Indonesia Information The practice of prostitution is contrary to moral and moral values in society because:
Morals and The existence of demoralization or low moral factors, individual piety to the teachings of his religion.
Educational standards in families that tend to below.
The widespread practice of spreading pornography.
Economy Economic factors become one of the dominant motives of the practice of prostitution so that prostitutes without thinking long run their profession and justify the practice of prostitution, because:
Fulfillment of the necessities of life.
The difficulty of finding work.
Hedonism attitude .
ant to look luxurious and glamorou.
Sociological Sociologically, the practice of prostitution is an immoral act, which is contrary to ethics in society, because:
There is an invitation from a friend who has previously pursued a profession in the practice of prostitution.
The existence of persuasion and deception from other parties .
imps or service user.
Psychological Mental and mental health factors also influence a person to practice prostitution because:
Less harmonious family relationships.
Having a traumatic experience.
There is a desire for revenge with past experiences .
ailure of marriage, tainted by her lover and then abandone.
Biological Biological needs can influence a person to practice prostitution.
Abnormal lust .
ot satisfied with sexual relations with their Curiosity in channeling sexual desire Laziness The laziness factor is usually caused by psychic and low mentality, due Do not want to fight more in the competition of life.
Only take advantage of physical capital .
osture, beaut.
More Other supporting factors are related to the ease of accessing the practice of prostitution, due to:
1 The existence of supporting technology.
2 Increasing pornographic films and VCDs, obscene images in 3 There is a media practice of prostitution.
Sources: Marcius & Simatupang .
Sosiady & Ermansyah .
Media Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 The Development of the Prostitution Business Network The prostitution business network is an organized trade in informal settings that is worth billions of dollars for women at home and abroad (Pitcher, 2.
According to Lim .
prostitution business networks are integrated into economic, social, and political life.
that directly or indirectly, this business contributes to a country's employment, national income, and economic growth.
This is in line with the International Labor Organization .
Global Network of Sex Work Projects .
, which shows strong evidence that the prostitution business has a significant impact on the national economy because the prostitution business network will affect the economy through tax revenue, income distribution, and other positive externalities (Ayres, 2.
Most prostitution business networks are forms of abuse of women, which tend to be underestimated to be profitable, whether legal or tolerated through the international industry (Rosyida & Sadewo, 2.
Globally, there are 13,828,700 prostitutes worldwide, 80 percent of whom are women in the age range of 13-25 years (Scelles Foundation, 2.
Conditions in several countries then legalized prostitution business networks in the prostitution industry, a large-scale brothel industry that was regulated and supervised by the Government.
So that, in the end, the creation of a massive prostitution business network point (Abas, 2.
South Korea estimates that there are one million women in the prostitution business network and are estimated to be worth 4.
4 percent of its gross domestic product, which is a more considerable contribution than the forestry, fisheries, and agriculture sectors combined (Hurt, 2.
In addition, the Netherlands, which has legalized its prostitution business network since 2001, is estimated to get five percent of its gross domestic product from its prostitution business (Daley, 2.
In China, the boom in the prostitution business network began in 1978, which is estimated to employ 10 million Ae 20 million women who contribute USD 700 billion or eight percent of the economy in China (Hurt, 2.
In the United States, it shows that the total income from the prostitution business network is USD 9 Ae USD 290 million (Dank & Johnson, 2.
In Indonesia, business practices are also not a new phenomenon.
The existence of this prostitution business network is never finished, let alone abolished (Prasetyo, 2.
The Government later legalized several cases in the long history of this prostitution business practice in order to closely monitor the spread of the practice that could potentially be caused by this activity.
This prostitution business network illustrates many things from the dark side of humans.
Because in essence, prostitution is not only about sexual relations, the spread of the disease caused and those involved in it, but there are also parties either directly or indirectly enjoying and taking advantage of the existence of this prostitution business (Prasetyo.
The same thing was also expressed by Koentjoro .
Murdyanto .
prostitution industry is in a working economic and political system, which positions women as objects of sexual satisfaction and profitable commodities.
This means that the existence of prostitutes and brothels is not just a localization and prostitutes, but there are a variety of interests and businesses behind it.
Various economic data show that the contribution of prostitution to the country's economy is relatively large.
According to Sciortino .
, in the early 1990s, the prostitution business network had generated a financial turnover of USD 1,180 million to USD 3,300 million, where this figure was equivalent to 0.
8 - 2.
4 percent of Indonesia's GDP in the same year.
Data from the ILO .
also states that the prostitution business network in four Southeast Asia (Indonesia.
Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailan.
is estimated to reach two percent to four percent of the total GDP.
This figure continues to increase until it reaches USD 2.
25 billion or around Rp.
30 trillion in a year (Havoscope.
On this basis.
Indonesia is ranked in the top 12 countries with the most significant business acquisition.
Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 From the magnitude of this value, you can imagine that it is not easy to reduce or even eliminate prostitution in Indonesia.
However, the Government of Indonesia has slowly begun to close localization points and trick prostitution workers not to return to their activities in the prostitution business network .
ee Table .
The Indonesian Government then provided compensation in the form of productive economic business assistance of Rp.
3,000,000 per person and also life insurance of Rp.
5,050,000 as well as various vocational training (Kusumawati & Rochaeti, 2.
Table 3.
Distribution of the Number of Prostitutes and Localization in Indonesia Number of 99,105 people 64,435 people 56,000 people 19,726 people Number of Localization 19 provinces, 21 provinces, 17 provinces, 13 provinces, 16 cities/ 25 cities/ 15 cities/ 10 cities/ Source: Murdiyanto .
, modified The closure influences the reduction in the number of localization and prostitutes carried out by the Government with the following considerations (Shively et al.
, 2.
: .
reducing the incidence of HIV and AIDS, .
eradicating thuggery practices, .
reducing the incidence of sexual violence .
ex abus.
a form of guarantee from the Government related to the fulfillment of human rights both for prostitutes and the community around the localization.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund .
, it is estimated that out of all prostitutes, at least 30 percent of them are prostitution workers under 18 years old, or even there is widespread news in the media about artists who are also involved in this prostitution business network.
Pimp Marketing Pimping activities that occur in the localization are an option to earn a living that is used for the family's daily needs, even though it is only a side job because they have other types of work (Tahrus.
Previo, & Abdurrahman, 2.
However, this was not confirmed by Prasetyo .
, who stated that this other work was only done to disguise his work from the prostitution business.
In order to run their prostitution business optimally, pimps utilize their socio-economic resources through various strategies, one of which is to build and maintain social networks for fellow prostitutes and other parties who can provide smooth access to their business activities (Artosa, 2.
This means that pimps carry out a form of social interaction with other actors, which as a whole they are connected as a complex prostitution business network .
ee Figure .
Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 Source: Edlud, & Korn .
Artosa .
modified Figure 1.
Social Interaction of Pimps in the Prostitution Business The pattern of interaction carried out by pimps becomes dominant and involves many This shows that the prostitution business has an essential role in the lives of most community groups, both prostitutes and people living around the localization who also need to fulfill their lives.
The role of pimps is as an intermediary and a supplier of commercial sex workers to their service users.
The role of the prostitution business network played by pimps is not merely transactional but also managerial and protective in nature.
Pimps act as intermediaries who manage the flow of services between sex workers and clients while maintaining control over the business structure.
Their primary goal is to protect both their economic interests and the well-being of the sex workers under their supervision, often referred to as their "foster " This suggests that security and stability are central elements in maintaining the continuity of the prostitution enterprise (Pascawati, 2.
The pimp's role ensures that market demands are met, sex workers are able to operate with a degree of protection, and clients receive the services they expect, creating a semi-organized system that mirrors conventional service industries.
According to Prasetyo .
, while pimps offer a degree of autonomy to sex workers in choosing clients and negotiating the terms of engagement, this freedom is still embedded within a structure that considers potential risks and benefits.
This dynamic results in a complex web of social relations where each actorAipimp, sex worker, and clientAiperforms a specific role that sustains the network.
Such relationships are maintained not only through economic transactions but also through shared norms, mutual dependencies, and tacit understandings of boundaries and expectations.
In this way, the prostitution business network operates as a form of informal governance, where power, protection, and profit These dynamics highlight the need to understand prostitution not only as individual behavior but as part of a wider socio-economic system that adapts and evolves in response to market forces, urban pressures, and regulatory gaps.
If seen, how the mechanism of social interaction in determining how pimps work in running the prostitution business, especially in recruiting potential victims, is determined by:
Table 4.
Pimping-style marketing in the practice of prostitution in Indonesia Media Information As a child trafficker for prostitution who has also been prostituted before, there is an element of revenge in recruiting Former victim victims who are not assisted by child trafficking syndicates for Pimps and family To recruit victims, pimps collaborate with family members or relatives who also work as pimps in other places.
This motif is Griya Widya: Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Health, 5.
2025 considered adequate because it is familial, and the distribution of profits between pimps is flexible.
Pimps who work in child trafficking syndicates for prostitution are organized to recruit their victims.
Pimps who use this motif usually have different duties and responsibilities related to those Human trafficking in charge of recruiting at the area of origin, delivering, receiving victims at their destination using telephone communication networks and social media without the victim's knowledge.
So it is difficult to trace its whereabouts.
Source: Ulfiah & Hannah .
Yudha.
Rahmatuniisa, & Sumadinata .
modified The types and rates set either through pimps or directly to sex workers will depend on the variety of services provided.
This tariff is dynamic, depending on the agreement between the two parties involved in the prostitution business transaction.
In providing tariffs for each service provided, workers provide different rates.
It depends on: .
whether the demand is crowded or not.
the age of sex workers.
The description related to the upper and lower limits of the variety of services provided on average is as follows:
People who have houses or buildings in the localization can rent it out as an inn.
Where the manager of the Inn is usually referred to as AuMamahAy or AuPapaAy which adjusts to the gender of the manager.
The determination of the rental price of the house will depend on the area of the building and the condition of the house.
In general, the income of innkeepers is relatively small, averaging one-fifth of the income of sex workers or pimps, but this nominal can be higher because each inn is not only occupied by one prostitute.
addition, there is a security service fee known as a withdrawal which is carried out twice a month with a nominal value of IDR 100,000.
Some officers charge retribution to visitors of IDR 5,000 Ae IDR 10.
000 who want to enjoy the services of the available prostitution Because of this, the profit-sharing of the prostitution business is one of the potential businesses with an organized work system.
The imposition of responsibility due to the size of the role in this prostitution business network will affect the magnitude of the determination of the results (Jakobsson & Kotsadam, 2.
DISCUSSION