No Evidence that Banning the Purchase of Sex Increases Rape: A Replication Study of Ciacci (2024, 2025)

Joop Adema, Olle Folke, Johanna Rickne, Department of Public Finance, University of Innsbruck, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics, Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University

Evaluation Review: A Journal of Applied Social Research

Published online on May 04, 2026

Abstract

Evaluation Review, Ahead of Print.
We re-analyze two research articles with results showing that Sweden’s criminalization of purchasing sex triggered a large increase in rape. Our analysis documents discrepancies that produce unreliable results in five identification strategies in the ...