Wages, Violence and Health in the Household

55 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2007 Last revised: 16 Nov 2022

See all articles by Anna Aizer

Anna Aizer

Brown University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: October 2007

Abstract

Three quarters of all violence against women is perpetrated by domestic partners. I study both the economic causes and consequences of domestic violence. I find that decreases in the male-female wage gap reduce violence against women, consistent with a household bargaining model. The relationship between the wage gap and violence suggests that reductions in violence may provide an alternative explanation for the well-established finding that child health improves when mothers control a greater share of the household resources. Using instrumental variable and propsensity score techniques to control for selection into violent relationships, I find that violence against pregnant women negatively affects the health of their children at birth. This work sheds new light on the health production process as well as observed income gradients in health and suggests that in addition to addressing concerns of equity, pay parity can also improve the health of American women and children via reductions in violence.

Suggested Citation

Aizer, Anna, Wages, Violence and Health in the Household (October 2007). NBER Working Paper No. w13494, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1021972

Anna Aizer (Contact Author)

Brown University - Department of Economics ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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