Only a few cities can base their economies on sex (true for some towns near naval bases or mining camps). Yet sex is a central part of the political economy of all large cities, especially those which are growing fast and therefore home to many who are uprooted, transient, desperate—or newly rich in times of political or social upheaval. Under such conditions what is often hidden becomes revealed: this would seem true of Chinese and Russian cities since the 1990s with their rapidly flourishing prostitution. The view of Bangkok as “the global brothel” grew out of its status as the major center...

Only a few cities can base their economies on sex (true for some towns near naval bases or mining camps). Yet sex is a central part of the political economy of all large cities, especially those which are growing fast and therefore home to many who are uprooted, transient, desperate—or newly rich in times of political or social upheaval. Under such conditions what is often hidden becomes revealed: this would seem true of Chinese and Russian cities since the 1990s with their rapidly flourishing prostitution. The view of Bangkok as “the global brothel” grew out of its status as the major center for American GIs on “rest and recreation” during the Vietnam War when 700,000 U.S. military took leave in Bangkok.