This methodological appendix will further detail the data used for this book as well as provide more information on the application of fsQCA. It begins with a discussion of the selected outcome. Then each of the data sources for the processes hypothesized to be important to the causal chain are outlined in more detail. The appendix concludes by covering the more particular steps of fsQCA including calibration, testing for necessity, and the parsimonious and complex solutions.

Data

Human trafficking

For the outcome of human trafficking, two variables were examined. First, data on the effectiveness of government anti-trafficking efforts is obtained from a research database on the 3P Anti-Trafficking Policy Index (Cho et al, 2014a). This database evaluates countries based on the requirements prescribed by the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000). A country is given a score from 1– 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 the best on three sub-indices: prosecution of traffickers, prevention of the crime of human trafficking, and protection of trafficking victims. These scores are then summed to an overall index score, with a range from the worst score of 3 to the best score of 15 (Cho et al, 2014a). This dataset has scores which cover the period from 2000 to 2015 and includes 189 countries.

Though this database largely examines countries’ legislation surrounding human trafficking, it does examine numbers of traffickers prosecuted and numbers of victims identified. The coding guideline of the 3P Anti-Trafficking Policy Index notes that actual enforcement in the form of investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and punishment of offenders is examined alongside legislation when forming the basis of the Prosecution score. Likewise, the number of victims identified is examined alongside efforts to protect victims’ rights and provide measures for recovery when forming the basis of the Protection score (Cho et al, 2014a). Furthermore, the focus on evaluating effectiveness is important. To receive a high score on each dimension, it is not enough that a country simply has legislation in place that is in accordance with the UN Protocol. Effectiveness is also a component of the scoring, considering policing and prosecutorial efforts, efforts to identify and protect victims, and cooperation with NGOs.