Economic empowerment and gender equality: The impacts of cash transfers on intimate partner violence against women in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

This thesis reviews existing literature on the impacts of cash transfers (CTs) on male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It begins with an overview of theories linking IPV and poverty, followed by an exploration of the mechanisms through which CTs can alleviate economic stress and subsequently reduce violence. The core section of this thesis is then a review of quantitative evidence on the effectiveness of CTs in lowering women-targeted IPV across developing countries. While outcomes are mixed, results showed that where positive effects were observed, IPV prevalence was significantly reduced (by 10% to 40%), suggesting CTs’ potential in combating gender-based intimate violence. However, policymakers should carefully consider the nuances when designing cash transfer programs, and future research is required to better understand the multi-dimensional relationship between cash grants and male-to-female intimate partner violence.