Citation

Weitzer R. Ann. Am. Acad. Polit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 653(1): 6-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0002716214521562

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article evaluates four popular claims regarding human trafficking's international magnitude, trends, and seriousness relative to other illicit global activities. I find that the claims are neither evidence-based nor verifiable. Second, an argument is made for carefully conducted microlevel research on trafficking. Several such studies are described, including the contributions to this volume of The Annals. I argue for microlevel research, which has advantages over grand, macrolevel claims--advantages that are both quantitative (i.e., identifying the magnitude of trafficking within a measurable context) and qualitative (i.e., documenting complexities in lived experiences)--and is better suited to formulating contextually appropriate policy and enforcement responses.

Language: en