Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP17254
Authors: Sonia Bhalotra; Damian Clarke
Abstract: We leverage staggered implementation of lockdown across Chile’s 346 municipalities,identifying dynamic impacts on domestic violence (DV). Using administrative data, wefind lockdown imposition increases indicators of DV-related distress, while decreasing DVreports to the police. We identify male job loss as a mechanism driving distress, andfemale job loss as driving decreased reporting. Stimulus payments to poor householdsact on both margins, their impacts partially differentiated by lockdown status. Oncelockdown is lifted, police reports surge but we see a ratchet effect in distress. Our findingsaccentuate the controversy around welfare impacts of lockdown mandates.
Keywords: domestic violence; lockdown; social safety net; public health; COVID-19
JEL Codes: J12; I38; H53
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Male job loss (J79) | increase in domestic violence-related distress (J12) |
| Female job loss (J21) | decrease in reporting of domestic violence incidents (J12) |
| Lifting lockdown (E65) | surge in police reports (K42) |
| Lifting lockdown (E65) | elevated distress calls (H84) |
| Stimulus payments (J33) | mitigating effect on domestic violence incidence (J12) |
| Stimulus payments (J33) | mitigating effect on reporting of domestic violence incidents (J12) |
| Lockdown (K42) | increase in domestic violence-related distress (J12) |
| Lockdown (K42) | increase in public shelter occupancy for abused women (J12) |
| Lockdown (K42) | decrease in formal crime reports to the police (K42) |