A systems dynamics approach to human trafficking in Maharashtra, India

India is an extremely diverse and culturally unique nation that is characterized by a large and growing population. Amidst such potential, however, it is plagued by many levels of corruption and often ineffective governmental actions. Such conditions have given rise to a large human trafficking market that has pervasively spread throughout the region. Human Trafficking is a complex system defined by a multitude of endogenous and exogenous variables which drive an inhumane operation. From the human traffickers at the source nodes to the individual clients who visit and sexual exploit the girls through prostitution, human trafficking is often seen in India as a natural part of society or as a necessary evil. This paper aims at identifying the key variables which drive the human trafficking market in order to explain how such dynamics and structures contribute to the system and to what extent.