Conditional Cash Transfers for Women and Spousal Violence: Evidence of the Long-Term Relationship from the Oportunidades Program in Rural Mexico

Abstract

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A global comprehensive review of economic interventions to prevent intimate partner violence and HIV risk behaviours

“…All focused exclusively on women’s self-reported experiences of IPV, without consideration of HIV outcomes, with four from Latin America and one from Kenya. Two analyses focused on Mexico’s Oportunidades, which is a conditional cash transfer linked to accessing health and education services [37,38]; one focused on Bono de Desarrollo Humano (B.D.H), a state-run unconditional cash transfer in Ecuador [35]; and one focused on a humanitarian relief intervention in Ecuador, which operated for six months [75]. The final study was of an unconditional cash transfer called ‘GiveDirectly’ run by an NGO in rural Kenya, which provided either a lump sum or regular transfers of a smaller amount over nine months [39].…”

“…Study quality was generally high with randomised designs in Kenya and Ecuador [35,36,39]. Two studies, both from Mexico, were cross-sectional in design [37,38]. …”

“…In the BDH evaluation no impact was seen on reducing violence, while an increase in male controlling behaviours was reported ( p  < 0.05) [35]. Another study showed no long-term impact on IPV; however, analyses suggested this was because women could leave abusive partners because of receipt of the transfer [38].

(5) Cash transfers as incentive for behaviour change

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The Effect of Cash, Vouchers, and Food Transfers on Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Northern Ecuador

“…Impacts from employment and micro-credit programs are likely to differ from those from CT programs, given that employment and micro-finance may have additional psychological and time allocation effects (Heath 2012). In addition, there is need for evidence on medium and long-term impacts, carefully accounting for changes in partnership dynamics, as evidence has shown that the relationship between IPV and income may fluctuate over time (Bobonis, Castro, and Morales 2015). Lastly, better data on conflict, stress, and bargaining power are needed in order to better understand the pathways through which transfers impact IPV.…”

Women economic empowerment via cash transfer and microcredit programs is enough to decrease intimate partner violence? Evidence from a systematic review

“…Five surveys evaluated the impact of CTP on physical violence. Only one suggested that CTP reduces physical violence 17 , while four studies reported no effect at all 45,46,47,48 . None of the studies showed an increased risk.…”