Journal of Economic Literature
ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)
Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights from Economic Research
Journal of Economic Literature
(pp. 403–46)
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive global issue, with approximately one in three women experiencing IPV during her lifetime. IPV prevalence is higher in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and costs of IPV are also considerably larger as a percentage of GDP in LMICs. We present the economic theory behind IPV and highlight some important determinants, such as poverty and societal norms. We then synthesize the causal evidence on the impact of a range of policies and interventions, highlighting approaches that have been effective in reducing IPV. We identify key insights from the existing literature and outline areas where further theoretical and empirical research is needed.Citation
Shah, Manisha, and Lydia Barski. 2026. "Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights from Economic Research." Journal of Economic Literature 64 (2): 403–46. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20251769Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I32 Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
- J12 Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure; Domestic Abuse
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification