NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.aol.com/article/german-sex-industry/441881

BERLIN (April 22) - It did not take long for the world financial crisis to affect the world's oldest profession in Germany.
In one of the few countries where prostitution is legal, and unusually transparent, the industry has responded with an economic stimulus package of its own: modern marketing tools, rebates and gimmicks to boost falling demand.
Some brothels have cut prices or added free promotions while others have introduced all-inclusive flat-rate fees. Free shuttle buses, discounts for seniors and taxi drivers, as well as "day passes" are among marketing strategies designed to keep business going.
"Times are tough for us too," said Karin Ahrens, who manages the "Yes, Sir" brothel in Hanover. She told Reuters revenue had dropped by 30 percent at her establishment while turnover had fallen by as much as 50 percent at other clubs.
"We're definitely feeling the crisis. Clients are being tight with their money. They're afraid. You can't charge for the extras any more and there is pressure to cut prices. Everyone wants a deal. Special promotions are essential these days."
Germany has about 400,000 professional prostitutes. Official figures do not distinguish between the sexes and the number of male prostitutes is not known, but they account for a small fraction of the total and are treated the same under the law.
In 2002, new legislation allowed prostitutes to advertise and to enter into formal labor contracts. It opened the way for them to obtain health insurance, previously refused if they listed their true profession.
Annual revenues are about 14 billion euros ($18 billion), according to an estimate by the Verdi services union. Taxes on prostitution are an important source of income for some cities.
Prostitution is also legal and regulated in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Greece, Turkey and in some parts of Australia, and the U.S. state of Nevada.
In other countries, such as Luxembourg, Latvia, Denmark, Belgium and Finland, it is legal but brothels and pimping are not.

So... should the prostitution industry establish a flat rate for services now that recession is in full swing? And if it does, how do you think this will affect the profession?

http://news.aol.com/article/german-sex-industry/441881



So... should the prostitution industry establish a flat rate for services now that recession is in full swing? And if it does, how do you think this will affect the profession?
You can't tax income that isn't there... Reduce the taxes on prostitution and watch the business thrive.

You can't tax income that isn't there... Reduce the taxes on prostitution and watch the business thrive.
How does reducing the taxes on prostitution do anything about a 30-50% decline in revenue and customers?

How does reducing the taxes on prostitution do anything about a 30-50% decline in revenue and customers?

Makes the service more affordable.

How does reducing the taxes on prostitution do anything about a 30-50% decline in revenue and customers?
Just like in any other business. They would have lower operating costs and be able to pass that along to the customer as a lower price for services.

Makes the service more affordable.
Only if the reduction in taxes makes prostitutes and brothels reduce their prices. Which certainly doesn't follow automatically. It's not like taxes on prostitution increased prices so why should the opposite be true?

And they have already been slashing prices all over the board, that's what the article is about. And I didn't see a mention anywhere about how "business was thriving" as a result of those price cuts.

Only if the reduction in taxes makes prostitutes and brothels reduce their prices. Which certainly doesn't follow automatically.

Then their revenue increases.

Then their revenue increases.

But not by much. They would need to lower prices to attract more customers. And I seriously doubt that this is the world's "oldest" profession.

But not by much. They would need to lower prices to attract more customers.

Exactly, if the revenue is not sufficient, they will have to lower prices anyway. So either way, it will go some way into helping them.

But not by much. They would need to lower prices to attract more customers. And I seriously doubt that this is the world's "oldest" profession.

it helps them make more in these hard times. rather then reducing prices by 50 dollars an hour they can reduce it by 45 as far as they see it, and the taxes cover the other 5 reduced.

Just a note now that I've cleared the spam out of the thread; let's keep the discussion on topic without wandering into spam territory, kay guys?

(Nanatsu no Tsuki and Galloism, I'm looking at you two especially.)

~Rep Prod the Mod

I think the less-well-endowed practitioners may want to establish a flat rate, but I think the article has the right idea with special promotions. I'm sure we can all imagine an entertaining variety of offers, yes?

But not by much. They would need to lower prices to attract more customers. And I seriously doubt that this is the world's "oldest" profession.

Religion? I thought the first examples of both were found in temples . . .

I think the less-well-endowed practitioners may want to establish a flat rate, but I think the article has the right idea with special promotions. I'm sure we can all imagine an entertaining variety of offers, yes?

I would establish the rates according to the type of service that's needed.

I would establish the rates according to the type of service that's needed.

Is that not how it is done? I've always understood it to work that way here in the USA, but I am unfamiliar with the protocol am Deutschland.

Is that not how it is done? I've always understood it to work that way here in the USA, but I am unfamiliar with the protocol am Deutschland.

Apparently the German sex industry is in the rocks because the customers want brothels to establish flat rates for the services offered.

So, WTF didn't anyone tell me that now we've got flat-rate fucking?

(Not that I've screwed a prostitute before, but that's strange news!)

So, WTF didn't anyone tell me that now we've got flat-rate fucking?

(Not that I've screwed a prostitute before, but that's strange news!)

You've been told.

So. Considering?

You've been told.

So. Considering?
Nah, not really.

Even a flat-rate is a lot on dough and I'd still only hump people I like.

Why? You offering*?!? :tongue:
* I still wouldn't pay money.

So, WTF didn't anyone tell me that now we've got flat-rate fucking?

(Not that I've screwed a prostitute before, but that's strange news!)

Well, there's the article. Now you know.

And I seriously doubt that this is the world's "oldest" profession.
I'm pretty sure it isn't. If we take the definition, profession involves application of a specific knowledge or skill, and is a full-time occupation.
The earliest things that can be called a profession are, perhaps, some craft and then trade, in this order.
Full-time craftsmen, receiving food for their goods, have certainly existed in the earliest of societies, but some might disagree if it's a profession. The profession of a full-time trader requires interaction between societies/tribes, but at that point, it pretty much has to be full-time (to transport the goods), and involves specific skills.

While offering copulation in exchange for material goods has been common since early vertebrates to this day, it could only become full-time in pretty large and advanced civilizations. Before that, it was just a part of what everybody does, and we don't call making your own breakfast a profession. Also, prostitution probably requires a form of birth control, which means a certain level of medicine.