Austerity and gender-based violence: insights from England and Wales

María Camila Jiménez Amaya (), Daria Denti () and Alessandra Faggian
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María Camila Jiménez Amaya: Gran Sasso Science Institute
Daria Denti: Gran Sasso Science Institute

No 2025-16, Discussion Paper series in Regional Science & Economic Geography from Gran Sasso Science Institute, Social Sciences

Abstract: Weinvestigate the relationship between austerity-driven welfare cuts and gender based violence in England and Wales from 2006-2019. Using difference-in-differences andeventstudymethods,weexploitgeographicandtemporalvariationinexposureto the austerity welfare reform and construct a novel exposure measure from actual gov ernmentexpendituredata. Increasedexposuretowelfarecutsincreasedgender-based violence reporting, with effects emerging 2 years post-implementation and growing over time. Effects were nearly twice as large outside London (16.2% vs. 9.5%) and twice as large in deprived communities. Complementary analysis using victimisation data shows no corresponding increase in violence prevalence, indicating that higher reporting reflects changes in victims’ help-seeking behaviour rather than rising inci dence. As welfare support diminished, victims increasingly turned to police as their primary remaining avenue for assistance. The results underscore the importance of considering gendered effects in austerity and welfare policy reforms.

Keywords: gender-based violence; women; austerity; welfare cut (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H53 I38 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 52 pages
Date: 2025-02, Revised 2025-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen and nep-mid
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ahy:wpaper:wp78

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