Francis Andrew M
Department of Economics at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
J Health Econ. 2008 May;27(3):675-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2007.09.007. Epub 2007 Nov 29.
In this paper, I test a simple microeconomic theory of sexuality. I apply the theory to make predictions about the effect of AIDS on sexuality, since AIDS dramatically altered the cost of sexual activities. Using a nationally representative dataset on sexuality in the United States, I estimate the effect of AIDS on male and female homosexual behavior. To do so, I postulate that people who have a relative with AIDS, on average, have more knowledge, awareness, and fear of AIDS. Empirically, this variable is uncorrelated with a number of individual background characteristics. I present evidence that AIDS causes some men to shift from homosexual to heterosexual behavior, whereas AIDS causes some women to shift from heterosexual to homosexual behavior. Thus, sexual behavior may respond to incentives. I consider alternative hypotheses, including biological theories of sexual orientation and stigma-related survey bias, and argue that they are unlikely to explain the results.
在本文中，我检验了一个关于性行为的简单微观经济理论。我运用该理论对艾滋病对性行为的影响进行预测，因为艾滋病极大地改变了性活动的成本。利用美国一个具有全国代表性的性行为数据集，我估计了艾滋病对男性和女性同性恋行为的影响。为此，我假定平均而言，有亲属感染艾滋病的人对艾滋病有更多的了解、认识和恐惧。从经验上看，这个变量与许多个人背景特征不相关。我提供的证据表明，艾滋病导致一些男性从同性恋行为转向异性恋行为，而艾滋病导致一些女性从异性恋行为转向同性恋行为。因此，性行为可能会对激励做出反应。我考虑了其他假设，包括性取向的生物学理论和与污名相关的调查偏差，并认为它们不太可能解释这些结果。
