Health, Human Capital and Domestic Violence

Nicholas Papageorge, Gwyn C. Pauley, Mardge Cohen, Tracey E. Wilson, Barton Hamilton () and Robert Pollak

No 22887, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study the impact of a medical breakthrough (HAART) on domestic violence and illicit drug use among low-income women infected with HIV. To identify causal effects, we assume that variation in women's immune system health when HAART was introduced affected how strongly their experience of domestic violence or drug use responded to the breakthrough. Immune system health is objectively measured using white blood cell (CD4) counts. Because the women in our sample were informed of their CD4 count, it is reasonable to assume they react to it. Using this identification strategy, we find that HAART introduction reduced domestic violence and illicit drug use. To explain our estimates, we treat health as a form of human capital and argue that women with more human capital face stronger incentives to make costly investments with future payoffs, such as avoiding abusive partners or reducing illicit drug use.

JEL-codes: I12 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-hme and nep-lma
Note: EH LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published as Nicholas W. Papageorge & Gwyn C. Pauley & Mardge Cohen & Tracey E. Wilson & Barton H. Hamilton & Robert A. Pollak, 2021. "Health, Human Capital, and Domestic Violence," Journal of Human Resources, vol 56(4), pages 997-1030.

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Journal Article: Health, Human Capital, and Domestic Violence (2021)
Working Paper: Health, Human Capital and Domestic Violence (2017)
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