Dynamic impacts of lockdown on domestic violence: Evidence from multiple policy shifts in Chile

Arbeitspapier

We leverage staggered implementation of lockdown across Chile's 346 municipalities, identifying dynamic impacts on domestic violence. Using administrative data, we find lockdown imposition increases indicators of distress related to domestic violence, while decreasing domestic violence reports to the police. We identify male job loss as a mechanism driving distress, and female job loss as driving decreased reporting. Stimulus payments to poor households act on both margins, their impacts partially differentiated by lockdown status. Once lockdown is lifted, police reports surge but we see a ratchet effect in distress. Our findings accentuate the controversy around welfare impacts of lockdown mandates.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-92-9267-129-7
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2021/189

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure; Domestic Abuse ; Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs ; National Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
• Subject: domestic violence ; social safety net ; public health ; COVID-19

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bhalotra, Sonia R. ; Brito, Emilia ; Clarke, Damian ; Larroulet, Pilar ; Pino, Francisco
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (where): Helsinki
• (when): 2021

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2021/129-7
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/249495
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET