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Research ArticleArticles
Open Access

Jobs and Intimate Partner Violence

Evidence from a Field Experiment in Ethiopia

View ORCID ProfileAndreas Kotsadam and Espen Villanger
Journal of Human Resources, March 2025, 60 (2) 469-495; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0721-11780R2
Andreas Kotsadam
Andreas Kotsadam is at The Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research .
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Espen Villanger
Espen Villanger is at the Christian Michelsen Institute .
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
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  • Figure 1
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    Figure 1

    List Experiment for the Question “Partner Sometimes Hits”

  • Figure 2
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    Figure 2

    List Experiment: “Partner Sometimes Hits” by Subgroups

    Notes: Treated and control refers to the randomization of job offers in the field experiment. List refers to the estimated prevalence of having partner sometimes hitting in the list experiment. Direct refers to the prevalence when using a direct survey question. Difference refers to the difference between asking in the list experiment minus asking directly. The difference-in-difference estimate for the treated and control, that is, the effect as measured with the list experiment, is not statistically significant (p = 0.25). 95 percent confidence intervals are shown.

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    Table 1

    Descriptive Statistics

    MeanSD
    Physical Abuse Variables (First Follow-Up)
    Physical abuse (lifetime)0.290(0.454)
    Physical abuse last 3 months0.129(0.336)
    Less severe (lifetime)0.260(0.439)
    Less severe last 3 months0.109(0.311)
    Severe (lifetime)0.018(0.134)
    Severe last 3 months0.003(0.056)
    Sexual (lifetime)0.092(0.289)
    Sexual last 3 months0.036(0.187)
    Other Outcome Variables (First Follow-Up)
    Emotional (lifetime)0.399(0.490)
    Emotional last 3 months0.177(0.382)
    Number of control issues (lifetime)1.010(1.549)
    Number control last 3 months0.376(0.862)
    Decision-making index0.639(0.327)
    Number decision-making items7.666(3.919)
    Equality index0.126(0.136)
    Number equality items1.260(1.361)
    Employment and Income Variables (First Follow-Up)
    Any wage job last 6 months0.498(0.500)
    Earnings from wage job last 6 months (birr)2,114(3,244)
    Share of earnings from wage job0.320(0.395)
    Earnings last 6 months (birr)2,818(3,919)
    Share of earnings0.280(0.350)
    Income last 6 months (birr)3,434(4,116)
    Share of income0.229(0.274)
    She earns more than him0.189(0.392)
    Main Baseline Variables
    Treatment0.490(0.500)
    Physical abuse last 3 months0.193(0.395)
    Any formal wage job (ever)0.308(0.462)
    Age24.909(6.139)
    Justified: Goes out0.300(0.459)
    Justified: Neglects children0.352(0.478)
    Justified: Refuses sex0.151(0.358)
    Justified: Argues0.197(0.398)
    Justified: Burns food0.196(0.397)
    Muslim0.140(0.347)
    Protestant0.229(0.420)
    Medium education (10 years)0.514(0.500)
    High education (>10 years)0.215(0.411)
    Father beat mother0.351(0.477)
    N1,262
    • Notes: All variables are measured at the first follow-up except for Treatment and the baseline controls. The share variables refer to woman’s share of the total couple earnings and income.

    • View popup
    Table 2

    Balance Tests and Predictions of Control Variables

    TreatmentPhysical First Follow-Up, AllPhysical First Follow-Up, Control
    (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
    Physical abuse last 3 months (B)−0.00570.00690.19***0.19***0.14***0.14***
    (0.037)(0.037)(0.032)(0.032)(0.043)(0.043)
    Any formal wage job (ever)0.00063−0.00180.0170.00770.0200.017
    (0.0030)(0.0031)(0.022)(0.022)(0.032)(0.032)
    Age−0.065**−0.053−0.0012−0.0012−0.0023−0.0020
    (0.032)(0.039)(0.0019)(0.0019)(0.0030)(0.0031)
    Justified: Goes out−0.053*−0.0400.014−0.00510.0058−0.022
    (0.032)(0.040)(0.022)(0.025)(0.033)(0.035)
    Justified: Neglects children−0.068*−0.0500.016−0.00720.0420.026
    (0.041)(0.049)(0.021)(0.027)(0.031)(0.038)
    Justified: Refuses sex−0.0150.040−0.0091−0.060*−0.0068−0.068
    (0.037)(0.045)(0.028)(0.032)(0.037)(0.043)
    Justified: Argues−0.0150.0410.0410.0360.0420.020
    (0.039)(0.049)(0.026)(0.030)(0.038)(0.043)
    Justified: Burns food0.0390.0400.046*0.0400.075*0.078*
    (0.033)(0.033)(0.027)(0.033)(0.041)(0.047)
    Muslim−0.13**−0.13**0.0036−0.0012−0.0081−0.019
    (0.054)(0.058)(0.037)(0.038)(0.056)(0.058)
    Protestant0.12*0.110.00640.034−0.00820.0042
    (0.065)(0.067)(0.042)(0.042)(0.063)(0.062)
    Medium education−0.061*−0.068−0.010−0.029−0.020−0.020
    (0.034)(0.051)(0.022)(0.029)(0.033)(0.045)
    High education0.056−0.010−0.0059−0.0190.00430.011
    (0.037)(0.056)(0.024)(0.032)(0.035)(0.048)
    Father beat mother−0.059*−0.064**0.0260.0190.0170.0071
    (0.031)(0.031)(0.021)(0.021)(0.029)(0.029)
    Number of observations1,2621,2621,2621,262643643
    R-squared0.080.110.110.120.13
    F-test1.263.431.16
    p-value of F-test0.260.060.28
    • Notes: Columns 1, 3, and 5 show coefficients when we include the variables one by one. The sample in Columns 5 and 6 is restricted to the control group only. All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses.

    • View popup
    Table 3

    First Stages: Effects of Treatment on Employment and Earnings in Different Waves

    Any Wage Job (1)Earnings from Wage Job (2)Share of Wage Earnings (3)She Earns More (4)All Source Income (5)
    Panel A: First-Stage Estimates After 6 Months
    Treatment0.40***1,726.8***0.19***0.13***1245.1***
    (0.025)(172.6)(0.025)(0.023)(224.7)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.291,292.020.230.132,824.93
    Number of observations1,2621,2629301,2261,259
    R-squared0.290.220.220.120.11
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlockBlock
    Panel B: First-Stage Estimates After 12 Months
    Treatment0.24***1661.1***0.15***0.10***967.4***
    (0.028)(200.2)(0.027)(0.025)(266.0)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.331,841.300.300.183,664.87
    Number of observations1,1741,1748661,1611,174
    R-squared0.190.180.210.140.07
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlockBlock
    Panel C: First-Stage Estimates After 18 Months
    Treatment0.17***1,392.1***0.097***0.069***948.5***
    (0.031)(250.7)(0.029)(0.027)(347.4)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.362,437.130.350.214,545.74
    Number of observations1,0741,0747941,0661,074
    R-squared0.150.140.200.140.08
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlockBlock
    • Notes: All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses.

    • View popup
    Table 4

    Reduced Form Effects of Treatment Assignment on IPV in Different Waves

    Physical (1)Physical (2)Emotional (3)Emotional (4)
    Panel A: Reduced Form Estimates After 6 Months
    Treatment−0.0100−0.012−0.053**−0.054**
    (0.020)(0.019)(0.022)(0.022)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.130.130.200.20
    Number of observations1,2621,2621,2621,262
    R-squared0.060.110.070.09
    ControlsBlockFullBlockFull
    Panel B: Reduced Form Estimates After 12 Months
    Treatment−0.0017−0.000280.00350.0071
    (0.017)(0.017)(0.020)(0.020)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.090.090.120.12
    Number of observations1,1741,1741,1741,174
    R-squared0.070.110.090.13
    ControlsBlockFullBlockFull
    Panel C: Reduced Form Estimates After 18 Months
    Treatment−0.016−0.014−0.047**−0.044**
    (0.018)(0.017)(0.020)(0.020)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.100.100.140.14
    Number of observations1,0731,0731,0731,073
    R-squared0.060.100.100.14
    ControlsBlockFullBlockFull
    • Notes: Physical IPV also includes sexual IPV. All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses.

    • View popup
    Table 5

    Correlations and Effects of Wage Jobs on IPV

    Physical (1)Physical (2)Emotional (3)Emotional (4)
    Panel A: OLS Regressions
    Any wage job last 6 months (B)0.054**0.050*0.0320.030
    (0.026)(0.026)(0.027)(0.027)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.130.130.200.20
    Number of observations1,2621,2621,2621,262
    R-squared0.090.110.100.11
    ControlsBlockFullBlockFull
    Panel B: Instrumental Variables Regressions
    Any wage job last 6 months−0.025−0.031−0.13**−0.12**
    (0.049)(0.049)(0.054)(0.054)
    Mean dep. var. in C group0.130.130.200.20
    Number of observations1,2621,2621,2621,262
    R-squared0.060.110.040.10
    ControlsBlockFullBlockFull
    • Notes: Physical IPV also includes sexual IPV. Robust SE in parentheses. (B) refers to baseline such that the results in Panel A refer to any wage job last six months as measured at baseline. The IV results are results from two stage least squares regressions where Treatment is used to instrument for any wage job last six months at follow-up.

    • View popup
    Table 6

    Correlation at Baseline between Abuse and Potential Moderators

    (1)(2)(3)(4)
    Panel A: Physical Abuse
    Equality index (B)0.058
    (0.076)
    Decision-making index (B)−0.084**
    (0.041)
    Acceptance index (B)0.080***
    (0.024)
    Number of control issues (B)0.096***
    (0.0088)
    Mean dep. var. in sample0.190.180.190.19
    Number of observations1,2609351,2621,262
    R-squared0.090.110.100.21
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlock
    Panel B: Emotional Abuse
    Equality index (B)−0.083
    (0.079)
    Decision-making index (B)−0.0088
    (0.046)
    Acceptance index (B)0.085***
    (0.027)
    Number of control issues (B)0.12***
    (0.0085)
    Mean dep. var. in sample0.250.230.250.25
    Number of observations1,2609351,2621,262
    R-squared0.100.130.110.24
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlock
    • Notes: Physical IPV also includes sexual IPV. All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses. The sample includes everyone without missing values of the outcome at baseline and follow-up.

    • View popup
    Table 7

    Reduced Form Effects on Potential Mediators

    Equality Index (1)Decision-Making Index (2)Acceptance Index (3)Number Controlling Issues (4)
    Treatment−0.00750.012−0.034−0.020
    (0.0074)(0.019)(0.027)(0.087)
    Mean dep. var. in sample0.130.620.441.05
    Number of observations1,2601,0411,2621,262
    R-squared0.160.220.150.13
    ControlsBlockBlockBlockBlock
    • Notes: All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses.

    • View popup
    Table 8

    List Experiment

    Partner Hits Sometimes (1)Partner Punched Last 3 Months (2)
    List treatment0.18**0.11
    (0.087)(0.092)
    Mean number of answers in C group1.491.50
    Mean direct question in C group0.150.06
    SE mean direct question in C group(0.026)(0.018)
    Number of observations367367
    R-squared0.010.00
    ControlsNoneNone
    • Notes: All regressions control block fixed effects. Robust SE in parentheses.

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    • 0721-11780R2_supp.pdf
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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (2)
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Jobs and Intimate Partner Violence
Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2025, 60 (2) 469-495; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0721-11780R2

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Jobs and Intimate Partner Violence
Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2025, 60 (2) 469-495; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0721-11780R2
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Employment and IPV
    • III. The Context and The Field Experiment
    • IV. Data and Empirical Strategy
    • V. Main Results
    • VI. Addressing Reporting Issues: Results from List Experiments
    • VII. Conclusion
    • Acknowledgments
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