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Poverty and parental discipline

Author

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  • Alloush, Mo
  • Conover, Emily
  • Godlonton, Susan

Abstract

Across and within countries, there are large differences in how parents discipline their children, and frequently, poverty is associated with higher levels of physical punishment. We leverage the roll-out of a conditional cash transfer program in Peru to test whether its introduction changes parental discipline practices. We find that in districts that begin to receive the program, the average level of reported physical punishment by mothers and fathers among the poor declines by at least 2.7 percentage points (11%) driven by reductions in slapping. Our findings suggest that program participation may have additional second-order benefits through the reduction of harsh physical forms of discipline practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Alloush, Mo & Conover, Emily & Godlonton, Susan, 2026. "Poverty and parental discipline," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:180:y:2026:i:c:s0304387825002457
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103694
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    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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