Domestic violence in developing countries

Domestic Violence inDomestic Violence in
Developing Countries:Developing Countries:
Theory and EvidenceTheory and Evidence
Mukesh Eswaran and Nisha MalhotraMukesh Eswaran and Nisha Malhotra
University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia

IntroductionIntroduction
 Theoretical ModelTheoretical Model
 Data and StatisticsData and Statistics
 Econometric RegressionEconometric Regression
 Empirical ResultsEmpirical Results
 DiscussDiscuss

Theoretical ModelTheoretical Model
Non cooperative Model
•Two Agents: (Woman and her
husband
•Two Public goods (x, y)
•Domestic violence (v)

Theoretical ModelTheoretical Model

EquilibriumEquilibrium
 Woman’s Bargaining PowerWoman’s Bargaining Power

EquilibriumEquilibrium
 Woman’s Bargaining PowerWoman’s Bargaining Power
 Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

PropositionsPropositions
 Proposition 1 : The equilibrium level of spousal
violence a woman endures may be nonmonotonic in
her threat utility.

PropositionsPropositions
 Proposition 2 :
(a) The wife’s autonomy in equilibrium is non-
decreasing in her husband’s threat utility.
(b) The extent of spousal violence the husband
perpetrates in equilibrium may decline in his
threat utility.

DATADATA
 We use the National Family Health SurveysWe use the National Family Health Surveys
(NFHS-2) data collected in 1998-99.10(NFHS-2) data collected in 1998-99.10
 interviewed over 90,000 eligible women, ever-marriedinterviewed over 90,000 eligible women, ever-married
women between the ages of 15-49, in these households.women between the ages of 15-49, in these households.
 The survey provides state-level estimates of demographic,The survey provides state-level estimates of demographic,
socioeconomic and health parameters as well as data onsocioeconomic and health parameters as well as data on
women’s autonomy, domestic violence, and anthropometricwomen’s autonomy, domestic violence, and anthropometric
measuresmeasures
 We narrow down our study to eligible women living in ruralWe narrow down our study to eligible women living in rural
areas who are currently married.areas who are currently married.
– sub-sample comprises of over 50,000 eligible womensub-sample comprises of over 50,000 eligible women

Summary Statistics of OutcomeSummary Statistics of Outcome
VariableVariable
VARIABLE MEAN STD. DEV.
Husband Has Beaten Wife (Ever) 0.18 0.38
Husband Has Beaten Wife (Past Year) 0.10 0.31
Decision_Cook 0.86 0.35
Decision _Health 0.50 0.50
Decision –Jewelry 0.52 0.50
Decision_Stay With Family 0.47 0.50
Don’t Need Permission _Market 0.24 0.43
Don’t Need Permission _Visit 0.20 0.40
Allowed_Own Money 0.55 0.50
Decision_Spend Money*i
0.15 0.35
Number of observations: 58,502

Summary statisticsSummary statistics
Wife Weight-Deviation from Mean 0.00 8.07
Wife Height-Deviation from Mean 0.00 5.75
Woman-Illiterate 0.59 0.49
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.10 0.30
Woman-Primary School 0.08 0.26
Woman-Middle School 0.15 0.35
Woman-High School and above 0.09 0.28
Husband-Illiterate 0.31 0.46
Husband-Less Than Primary 0.12 0.32
Husband-Primary School 0.09 0.28
Husband-Middle School 0.24 0.42
Husband-High School and above 0.25 0.43
length of Marriage 13.62 8.99
Woman's age at First Marriage 16.91 3.07
Unmet Desire for Sons 0.40 0.49
pregnant-Currently or Past Year 0.23 0.42
Support from Mother 0.07 0.26
self-employed 0.05 0.21
Work for family member 0.19 0.39
Work for someone else 0.18 0.38
Nuclear 0.59 0.49
Living in Natal Joint 0.02 0.14
Living in Joint 0.38 0.49
Hindu 0.80 0.40
Muslim 0.10 0.31
Christian 0.05 0.22
Sikh 0.02 0.16
Standard of Living Index-low 0.35 0.48
Standard of Living Index-medium 0.50 0.50
Standard of Living Index- high 0.15 0.36
Schedule Caste 0.18 0.39
Schedule Tribe 0.15 0.35
Other Backward Classes 0.31 0.46

Summary statisticsSummary statistics
Wife Weight-Deviation from Mean 0.00 8.07
Wife Height-Deviation from Mean 0.00 5.75
Woman-Illiterate 0.59 0.49
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.10 0.30
Woman-Primary School 0.08 0.26
Woman-Middle School 0.15 0.35
Woman-High School and above 0.09 0.28
Husband-Illiterate 0.31 0.46
Husband-Less Than Primary 0.12 0.32
Husband-Primary School 0.09 0.28
Husband-Middle School 0.24 0.42
Husband-High School and above 0.25 0.43
length of Marriage 13.62 8.99
Woman's age at First Marriage 16.91 3.07
Unmet Desire for Sons 0.40 0.49
pregnant-Currently or Past Year 0.23 0.42
Support from Mother 0.07 0.26
self-employed 0.05 0.21
Work for family member 0.19 0.39
Work for someone else 0.18 0.38
Nuclear 0.59 0.49
Living in Natal Joint 0.02 0.14
Living in Joint 0.38 0.49
Hindu 0.80 0.40
Muslim 0.10 0.31
Christian 0.05 0.22
Sikh 0.02 0.16
Standard of Living Index-low 0.35 0.48
Standard of Living Index-medium 0.50 0.50
Standard of Living Index- high 0.15 0.36
Schedule Caste 0.18 0.39
Schedule Tribe 0.15 0.35
Other Backward Classes 0.31 0.46
42%

0.05.1.15.2.25
Proportionofcases
Low Med High
illiterate<
Prim
PrimM
iddle
H
igh
H
igherSec.illiterate<
Prim
PrimM
iddle
H
igh
H
igherSec.illiterate<
Prim
PrimM
iddle
H
igh
H
igherSec.
Domestic Violence by Education and By Socio-Economic Status
mean of hbeat_yr mean of hbeat

0.05.1.15.2.25
Proportionofcases
Woman illiterate< Prim Prim Middle High Higher Sec.
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5
Domestic Violence by Education of Woman & her Husband
mean of hbeat_yr mean of hbeat

0 .1 .2 .3
Proportion of cases
Work else
Fami. or Self
Away
Home
Away
Home
(Home or Away from Home ) (Family Self OR Someone Else)
Domestic Violence by Work Condition

Estimation StrategyEstimation Strategy
V-Domestic ViolenceV-Domestic Violence
X-Other predictor variablesX-Other predictor variables
(threat Utility of the woman(threat Utility of the woman
and her husband)and her husband)

Dependent Variable: Husband Has Beaten Wife (Past Year)) Significant
Wife Weight-Deviation from Mean (-ve) Yes
Wife Height-Deviation from Mean
Woman-Less Than Primary
Woman-Primary School (-ve) Yes
Woman-Middle School (-ve) Yes
Woman-High School and above (-ve) Yes
Husband-Less Than Primary
Husband-Primary School (-ve) Yes
Husband-Middle School (-ve) Yes
Husband-High School and above (-ve) Yes
length of Marriage (-ve) Yes
Woman's age at First Marriage (-ve) Yes
Unmet Desire for Sons
pregnant-Currently or Past Year
Support from Mother (+ve) Yes
work_self (+ve) Yes
work_family (+ve) Yes
work_else (+ve) Yes
Living in Natal Joint (-ve) Yes
Living in Joint (-ve) Yes
Muslim
Christian
Sikh (+ve) Yes
Medium Social Economic Status (-ve) Yes
High Social Economic Status (-ve) Yes
Schedule Caste (+ve) Yes
Schedule Tribe
Other Backward Classes
Observations 49118

D-Decision making autonomyD-Decision making autonomy
V is EndogenousV is Endogenous

0
Decision_
Stay With
Family
Decision -
Jewellery
Decision
_Health
Decision_
Cook
Permissio
n _Visit
Permissio
n _Market
Decision_
Spend
Money
Husband Has Beaten Wife (Last Year)(-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) -49
Woman-Less Than Primary (+ve) (+ve)
Woman-Primary School (+ve)
Woman-Middle School (+ve)
Woman-High School and above (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)
Husband-Less Than Primary
Husband-Primary School
Husband-Middle School
Husband-High School and above (-ve) (-ve) (-ve)
Woman's age at First Marriage (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)
Unmet Desire for Sons (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve)
pregnant-Currently or Past Year
Support from Mother
work_self (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)
work_family (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)
work_else (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)
Living in Natal Joint (-ve) (-ve)
Living in Joint (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve)
Muslim (+ve)
Christian (+ve)
Sikh (+ve)
Medium Social Economic Status (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve)
High Social Economic Status (-ve) (-ve) (-ve) (-ve)
Schedule Caste (-ve) (-ve) (+ve) (+ve)
Schedule Tribe (+ve) (+ve) (+ve)

Results-HighlightsResults-Highlights
 Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence
 Education (-)Education (-)
 Age at first marriageAge at first marriage
(-)(-)
 Work (+)Work (+)
 Living Index (-)Living Index (-)
 Joint Family (-)Joint Family (-)
 AutonomyAutonomy
 Domestic violence (-)Domestic violence (-)
 EducationEducation
– woman (+)woman (+)
– Husband (~ + -)Husband (~ + -)
 Age at first marriageAge at first marriage
(~)(~)
 Work (+)Work (+)
 Living Index (-)Living Index (-)
 Joint Family (-)Joint Family (-)

Conclusion and ThoughtsConclusion and Thoughts
 We show that domestic violence impingesWe show that domestic violence impinges
on female autonomyon female autonomy
– feminist theory, domestic violence is anfeminist theory, domestic violence is an
outcome that derives from the weakoutcome that derives from the weak
autonomy and bargaining power of womenautonomy and bargaining power of women
 We also show that an increase in theWe also show that an increase in the
husband's threat utility, in fact, lowers thehusband's threat utility, in fact, lowers the
amount of violence he inflicts on his wife.amount of violence he inflicts on his wife.

DATADATA
 We use the National Family Health Surveys
(NFHS-2) data collected in 1998-99.10
 interviewed over 90,000 eligible women, ever-married
women between the ages of 15-49, in these households.
 The survey provides state-level estimates of demographic,
socioeconomic and health parameters as well as data on
women’s autonomy, domestic violence, and anthropometric
measures
 We narrow down our study to eligible women living in rural
areas who are currently married.
– sub-sample comprises of over 50,000 eligible

V-Domestic ViolenceV-Domestic Violence
X-Other predictor variablesX-Other predictor variables
(threat Utility)(threat Utility)
D-Decision making autonomyD-Decision making autonomy
V is EndogenousV is Endogenous

Instrument Variables:Instrument Variables:
WH –weight and height indexWH –weight and height index
of a womanof a woman
First Stage:First Stage:
Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence
Second Stage:Second Stage:
Women’s Autonomy outcomeWomen’s Autonomy outcome
Predicted value of DomesticPredicted value of Domestic
Violence as a regressor.Violence as a regressor.

Pair-Wise Correlation CoefficientsPair-Wise Correlation Coefficients
Dependent Variable:
Husband Has
Beaten Wife
(Past Year)
Wife Height-
Deviation
from Mean
Wife Height-
Deviation
from Mean
Dependent Variable: Husband Has
Beaten Wife (Past Year)
1
Wife Weight-Deviation from Mean -0.0892* 1
Wife Height-Deviation from Mean -0.0581* 0.4122* 1
Wife’s weight in Kgs -0.0916* 0.9885* 0.4074*
Wife’s Height in cms -0.0561* 0.4107* 0.9966*

Table 4: Domestic Violence
Dependent Variable: Husband Has
Beaten Wife (Past Year)
OLS Logit (Odds Ratio)
Wife Weight-Deviation from Mean -0.001 (6.37)** 0.983 (6.21)**
Wife Height-Deviation from Mean 0 -0.76 1 -0.1
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.005 -0.76 1.065 -1.03
Woman-Primary School -0.02 (3.25)** 0.81 (2.86)**
Woman-Middle School -0.02 (3.52)** 0.781 (3.51)**
Woman-High School & above -0.023 (3.21)** 0.674 (3.54)**
Husband-Less Than Primary -0.002 -0.29 1.016 -0.27
Husband-Primary School -0.019 (2.69)** 0.861 (2.27)*
Husband-Middle School -0.014 (2.76)** 0.91 (2.04)*
Husband-HighSchool & above -0.031 (5.78)** 0.741 (5.25)**
length of Marriage -0.002 (6.01)** 0.985 (6.02)**
Woman's age at First Marriage -0.003 (4.74)** 0.965 (4.54)**
Unmet Desire for Sons 0 -0.06 0.995 -0.12
pregnant-Current or Past Year 0.001 -0.26 1.013 -0.29
Support from Mother 0.02 (2.98)** 1.211 (3.14)**
work_self 0.034 (3.43)** 1.371 (3.67)**
work_family 0.027 (4.91)** 1.303 (4.74)**
work_else 0.042 (6.65)** 1.43 (6.58)**
Living in Natal Joint -0.047 (4.13)** 0.636 (3.45)**
Living in Joint -0.035 (9.13)** 0.709 (8.71)**
Muslim 0.016 (1.89)+ 1.183 (2.05)*
Christian 0.012 -0.75 1.101 -0.62
Sikh 0.021 (2.27)* 1.353 (2.13)*
Med. Social liv index -0.024 (5.39)** 0.832 (4.57)**
High . Social liv index -0.037 (6.26)** 0.541 (6.87)**
Schedule Caste 0.02 (3.44)** 1.193 (3.11)**
Schedule Tribe 0.002 -0.3 1.06 -0.78
Other Backward Classes -0.004 -0.82 0.994 -0.1
Observations 49118 49118
R-squared 0.05
Absolute value of t statistics in parentheses; + significant at 10%; * significant at 5%; ** significant at 1%
; Coefficients for state dummy variables not shown

Table 5: Women’s Autonomy- Involved in decision making
Decision_Stay
With Family
Decision -
Jewellery
Decision
_Health
Decision_
Cook
Husband Has Beaten Wife
(Last Year)
-1.281 (4.37)** -1.404 (4.21)** -0.615 (2.74)** -0.525 (2.98)**
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.012 -1.08 0.023 (1.87)+ 0.027 (2.26)* 0.004 -0.63
Woman-Primary School 0.001 -0.07 0.002 -0.12 -0.005 -0.44 -0.014 -1.6
Woman-Middle School 0.005 -0.39 0.001 -0.1 0.014 -1.22 -0.009 -1.37
Woman-High School & above 0.042 (2.71)** 0.052 (2.94)** 0.047 (2.60)** 0.007 -0.56
Husband-Less Than Primary -0.01 -0.69 -0.008 -0.6 0.005 -0.42 -0.001 -0.18
Husband-Primary School -0.008 -0.49 -0.006 -0.38 0.002 -0.19 -0.008 -0.82
Husband-Middle School -0.028 (2.12)* -0.028 (2.31)* -0.013 -1.45 -0.015 (2.54)*
Husband-HighSchool & above -0.045 (2.86)** -0.047 (2.84)** -0.02 -1.6 -0.028 (2.85)**
length of Marriage -0.00 -0.34 0.00 -0.44 0.002 (4.38)** 0.005 (11.57)**
Woman's age at First Marriage -0.001 -0.54 -0.002 -1.07 0.004 (2.20)* 0.001 -0.51
Unmet Desire for Sons -0.02 (2.55)* -0.026 (3.04)** -0.024 (3.89)** -0.012 (2.59)*
pregnant-Current or Past Year -0.008 -0.88 -0.01 -1.1 -0.007 -0.92 0.001 -0.21
Support from Mother -0.001 -0.08 -0.002 -0.13 0 -0.03 -0.004 -0.49
work_self 0.091 (4.34)** 0.124 (5.66)** 0.077 (4.37)** 0.023 (1.97)+
work_family 0.052 (3.56)** 0.049 (3.22)** 0.022 (2.33)* 0.018 (2.11)*
work_else 0.09 (5.49)** 0.097 (4.93)** 0.081 (6.21)** 0.038 (3.93)**
Living in Natal Joint -0.007 -0.26 -0.065 (2.13)* -0.041 (1.90)+ -0.142 (7.64)**
Living in Joint -0.043 (3.11)** -0.068 (4.48)** -0.024 (2.22)* -0.161 (19.66)**
Muslim -0.013 -0.77 -0.011 -0.64 0.006 -0.44 -0.011 -1.15
Christian 0.043 (1.71)+ 0.042 -1.35 -0.004 -0.15 0.014 -0.96
Sikh 0.069 (1.90)+ 0.058 -1.48 0.009 -0.27 0.031 (2.29)*
Med. Social liv index -0.015 -1.19 -0.029 (2.24)* -0.009 -1 -0.026 (3.98)**
High . Social liv index -0.029 -1.43 -0.043 (2.19)* -0.022 -1.31 -0.064 (5.77)**
Schedule Caste 0.036 (2.83)** 0.032 (2.19)* -0.002 -0.24 0.005 -0.6
Schedule Tribe 0.037 (2.31)* 0.026 -1.6 0.022 -1.61 0.003 -0.3
Other Backward Classes -0.003 -0.25 -0.005 -0.43 -0.007 -0.87 -0.008 -1.21
Observations 49118 49118 49118 49118
Absolute value of t statistics in parentheses; + significant at 10%; * significant at 5%; ** significant at 1%; Coefficients
for state dummy variables not shown.

Table 6: women Autonomy- Does not Need Permission
Permission _Visit Permission _Market
Husband Has Beaten Wife (Last Year) -0.584 (2.39)* -0.69 (2.81)**
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.005 -0.59 0.004 -0.44
Woman-Primary School 0.008 -0.77 0.013 -1.19
Woman-Middle School 0.004 -0.43 0.018 (1.85)+
Woman-High School & above 0.04 (3.25)** 0.061 (4.90)**
Husband-Less Than Primary -0.001 -0.12 -0.004 -0.51
Husband-Primary School -0.008 -0.75 -0.011 -1.08
Husband-Middle School -0.004 -0.57 -0.003 -0.32
Husband-HighSchool & above -0.006 -0.64 -0.007 -0.67
length of Marriage 0.003 (7.21)** 0.004 (8.28)**
Woman's age at First Marriage 0.001 -0.89 0.004 (2.68)**
Unmet Desire for Sons -0.005 -1.03 -0.002 -0.36
pregnant-Current or Past Year -0.005 -0.92 -0.005 -0.88
Support from Mother -0.016 (1.66)+ 0.002 -0.2
work_self 0.067 (4.60)** 0.069 (4.84)**
work_family 0.037 (3.39)** 0.032 (2.88)**
work_else 0.052 (3.55)** 0.062 (3.91)**
Living in Natal Joint -0.019 -0.81 -0.029 -1.23
Living in Joint -0.06 (5.34)** -0.083 (7.27)**
Muslim 0 -0.04 -0.016 -1.39
Christian 0.015 -0.78 0.014 -0.67
Sikh -0.01 -0.43 -0.005 -0.14
Med. Social liv index -0.019 (2.46)* -0.021 (2.39)*
High . Social liv index -0.025 (1.82)+ -0.042 (2.99)**
Schedule Caste 0.027 (3.14)** 0.032 (3.05)**
Schedule Tribe 0.052 (4.56)** 0.064 (5.59)**
Other Backward Classes 0.008 -1.02 0.011 -1.28

Table 7: Women’s Autonomy – Money Money Money
Decision_Spend Money Allowed_Own Money
Husband Has Beaten Wife (Last Year) -0.049 -0.38 -1.727 (4.90)**
Woman-Less Than Primary 0.014 (2.13)* 0.03 (2.00)*
Woman-Primary School 0.018 (3.02)** 0.025 -1.36
Woman-Middle School 0.016 (2.55)* 0.046 (3.11)**
Woman-High School & above 0.052 (6.57)** 0.126 (6.50)**
Husband-Less Than Primary -0.003 -0.45 0.004 -0.28
Husband-Primary School 0.005 -0.7 -0.016 -0.9
Husband-Middle School 0 -0.02 0 -0.03
Husband-HighSchool & above -0.001 -0.23 -0.003 -0.2
length of Marriage 0.001 (5.18)** 0.002 (2.02)*
Woman's age at First Marriage 0.002 (2.17)* -0.001 -0.5
Unmet Desire for Sons -0.004 -1.31 -0.012 -1.26
pregnant-Current or Past Year -0.003 -0.89 -0.005 -0.49
Support from Mother -0.015 (2.11)* 0.029 -1.58
work_self 0.592 (39.09)** 0.131 (5.59)**
work_family 0.131 (16.70)** 0.045 (3.18)**
work_else 0.569 (54.25)** 0.131 (6.20)**
Living in Natal Joint 0.003 -0.23 -0.089 (2.83)**
Living in Joint -0.017 (2.75)** -0.114 (7.06)**
Muslim 0.01 (2.06)* 0.013 -0.58
Christian 0.032 (2.13)* 0.034 -1.09
Sikh 0.012 -1.12 0.012 -0.48
Med. Social liv index -0.025 (4.76)** -0.004 -0.27
High . Social liv index -0.027 (3.40)** 0.026 -1.24
Schedule Caste 0.009 -1.52 0.037 (2.09)*
Schedule Tribe -0.01 -1.15 0.022 -1.14
Other Backward Classes 0.004 -0.94 0.022 (1.78)+
R-squared 0.42

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Editor's Notes