Prostitution and human trafficking occur throughout the world despite legal restrictions placed on them. According to Ronald Weitzer, “The sex industry refers to the workers, managers, owners, agencies, clubs, trade associations, and marketers involved in the sex trade, both legal and illegal” (1). There are many questions that arise when talking about the sex industry. Should prostitution be legalized? Would anything change if it were legalized? Is prostitution morally acceptable? What is being done to stop human trafficking? There is no correct answer to any of these questions, but each question can be analyzed by scholars who have different opinions on the matter. Prostitution should be legal while human trafficking is not. One of the reasons for the legalization of prostitution is the economic aspect. Weitzer states that, "In 2006 alone, Americans spent $13.3 billion on R-rated magazines, videos and DVDs, live sex shows, strip clubs, adult cable shows, computer pornography, and commercial phone sex " (1). If purchasing all these things is legal, why can't prostitution be legal too? The sex industry is very successful and in high demand. Weitzer's research showed that "rentals and sales of X-rated movies jumped from $75 million in 1985 to $957 million in 2006" (1). Imagine how much additional money could be thrown into the economy if prostitution were legalized. Prostitution exists every day, whether it's legal or not, so why not tax it and help the economy? Weitzer states that “approximately 80,000 arrests are made each year in the United States for violations of prostitution laws” (21). Prostitutes do not cause any harm. They are simply giving pleasure to someone and giving pleasure...... middle of paper...... (2003): 167-183. Academic research completed. EBSCOhost. Francis Harvey Green Library, West Chester, Pennsylvania. April 17, 2011 .Miko, Francis T. “Trafficking in Women and Children: The United States and the International Response.” Trafficking in women and children: current problems and developments. Ed. Anna M. Troubnikoff. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science, 2003. Print.Raymond, Janice G. “Ten Reasons Not to Legalize Prostitution and a Legal Response to the Demand for Prostitution.” Journal of Trauma Practice 2 (2003): 315-332. Academic research completed. EBSCOhost. Francis Harvey Green Library, West Chester, Pennsylvania. May 1, 2011 .Weitzer, Ronald J. “Sex Work: Paradigms and Policies.” Sex for sale: prostitution, pornography and the sex industry. Second ed. New York: Routledge, 2010. Print.