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Public work and private violence

Author

Listed:
  • Kjelsrud, Anders

    (Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo)

  • Sjurgard, Kristin Vikan

    (Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo)

Abstract

Violence against women is persisting in many parts of the world. At the same time, there is a global trend of increased female labour force participation. In this paper we study the effect on intimate partner violence of a large public work program in India that explicitly encourages female participation (MGNREGA). Based on detailed administrative data, we show that the work program leads to more violence against women. We argue that the effect could be explained by a "male backlash" mechanism, where husbands exercise violence to regain power within marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • Kjelsrud, Anders & Sjurgard, Kristin Vikan, 2020. "Public work and private violence," Memorandum 1/2020, Oslo University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:osloec:2020_001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intimate partner violence; female employment; public work;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D19 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Other
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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