I think it can safely be stated that the law changes makes life easier for "regular" prostitution, i.e. prostitution going by the law. It doesn't criminalize an

I think it can safely be stated that the law changes makes life easier for "regular" prostitution, i.e. prostitution going by the law. It doesn't criminalize anymore, it doesn't exclude. It's not just about welfare, like the article seems to mockingly assert at a point, it is about social security, medicare, ... As for whether it leads to more prostitution overall, that is not scientifically established. Admittedly, there is a sector of prostitution, where that law didn't change a thing. That's where the actual crimes happen. Nobody created the liberalization laws with the intent to lower prostitution rate overall. The situation before was a bit more aweful than with the (liberal) law. Prostitution was legal, but only doing it. When it came to legally enforce payment, sex workers didn't have much in their hand. That arguably supported pimping and bringing the "sex business" into shady regions.