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Given how slaves cost tens of thousands of dollars in today's money at the time of the American Civil War, I was surprised to read in a number of places (Wikipedia, Reuters, CNN) that the average price of a slave today is $90. The ultimate source for these claims appears to be University of Nottingham professor Kevin Bales. In a paper, he asserts that "slaves [are] less expensive today than at any time in the past", based on field observations.

Is this figure accurate? Are there independent sources that back it up?

Stack Overflown
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    You have a book by a university professor, and two reputable news organizations, What would you consider an "independent source" if they are not? – DJClayworth Oct 17 '20 at 00:23
  • See also [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/feb/25/modern-slavery-trafficking-persons-one-in-200) with a price of $450, [This report by Time](https://time.com/longform/african-slave-trade/) tell of people sold for $200. – DJClayworth Oct 17 '20 at 00:28
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    I'd worry of a cherry pick... In what time and place? Surely slave pricing hasn't been relatively constant in the Americas? –  Oct 17 '20 at 01:43
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    @DJClayworth By "independent" I mean not relying on Bales's figures. Not to say they are untrustworthy, but I'd like to see it backed up by other sources. – Stack Overflown Oct 17 '20 at 21:40
  • Personally, I struggle to understand why is it so cheap. I tend to think that it's just the same lie repeated many times by the charity-industrial complex to get some emotional empathy and increase donations. – Mars Robertson Oct 18 '20 at 15:18
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    The wikipedia article touches a few possible reasons - mainly that slaves are not necessarily bought or traded at all. Many get into such a dependency relation through poverty and despair, possibly semi-deliberal. Some even pay someone to be transferred to a first-world country in hope of a better life, but end up in slavery instead. And the usefullness/value for the "owner" may be reduced by slavery being illegal, as it makes it impossible (or at least risky) to use them openly. – Hulk Oct 19 '20 at 15:54
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    Another possible reason would be if the bulk of todays slavery happens in less developed countries. – Hulk Oct 19 '20 at 16:00
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    My understanding of this was that direct exchange of cash-for-human was rare, but indentured servitude for an immigration visa was frightengly common, and the cost to the "sponsor" was < $1000 per slave worker. I also understood the money changing hands was rarely buyer-to-seller, but more buyer-to-government for allowing them a permit to bring the slave in. – Ash Oct 24 '20 at 15:57

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