New Zealand Hookers

Meanwhile, there’s happier news from New Zealand. Actually, there quite often is. Despite its sleepy reputation, New Zealand is an interesting, even innovative place. Though this is more Will Wilkinson’s bailiwick than mine, NZ always scores well in measurements of global happiness and quality of life surveys. And, in part, I suppose, because of its isolated location, it’s been forced to take a flexible approach to public policy. Thus, New Zealand scrapped agricultural subsidies and implemented a school choice programme vastly more adventurous than anything attempted in the UK, let alone Scotland.

Now, on the social front, comes interesting news about the consequences of decriminalising prostitution (which is more Kerry Howley’s domain than mine). According to a new report there’s been no significant increase in the number of sex workers since decrominalisation in 2003. While prostitution might not be many people’s idea of an ideal profession and clearly changing the trade’s legal status cannot wash away all the problems that may be associated with it, it’s also evident that conditions for prostitutes have improved since decriminalisation.