Intra-Household Bargaining, Resource Allocation and Cost of Gender-Based Violence in Egypt: The Role of Asset Ownership and Gender Role Attitudes

Wives’ violent abuse is a common and widely acknowledged issue. However, the subject has received little empirical research in the developing world. This study explores the intra-household inequalities in Egypt, considering the gender role attitudes, female asset ownership and the domestic violence wives experience from their husbands. We apply a standard intra-household collective model and estimate the spouses’ labor supply equations. The empirical analysis relies on the Egypt Economic Cost of Gender-Based Violence Survey (ECGBVS) conducted in 2015. The findings showed that if the wife’s wage increases by 1 Egyptian pound, then she transfers 0.28 to 0.34 to her partner, while husbands, under the same increase, transfer 0.15 to 0.19 pounds to their wives. Moreover, an increase of one Egyptian pound in the household non-labor income increases by 0.62-072 the wife’s non-labor income. Also, the wife’s share in non-labor income rises by 0.62-0.72 Egyptian pounds for every pound increase in the household’s non-labor income. Focusing on the distribution factors, we find that the difference between the couples’ age, conservative gender role attitudes and violence reduce women’s bargaining power. The reduction in the annual wage ranges between 230 and 400 pounds per year with increases in age differences and gender role attitudes. It might reach 2,500 pounds per year if women have undergone any form of domestic violence from their partner, including physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. On the other hand, female asset ownership empowers women and enhances their bargaining power.