The economic dimensions of interpersonal violence - libdoc.who.int ...

THE ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE4. Effects of economic factorsand policies oninterpersonal violenceThis chapter discusses findings related to the effects of economic conditions andpolicies on interpersonal violence. As described in the introductory conceptualframework, society- and community-level risk factors for interpersonal violenceinclude economic inequality, poverty, weak economic safety nets andunemployment. In addition, these can also be influenced by interpersonalviolence. For example, increasing levels of violence may contribute to social andgeographic distributions of investments that could leave the poor worse off.Thus, it is often difficult to tease out the cause and effect relationships of thesevariables in the available literature.The relationship between economic conditions and interpersonal violence hasbeen the focus of extensive study in fields such as sociology, criminology,macroeconomics and development studies, and it was not possible to summarizeall such information in this report. Instead, this report focuses upon the morelimited contemporary public health and health economic literature dealing withthis relationship (Table 8).Table 8Selected studies exploring the relationship between economic factorsand interpersonal violenceStudy Backgroud risk factors Type(s) of interpersonal violencePeer reviewed articles and government studiesBlau & Blau (1982) Economic inequality, poverty, race (black) Stranger sexual assault, other violent crimeButchart & Engstrom(2002)Devine, Sheley &Smith (1988)Engstrom,Diderichsen &Laflamme (2002)Fajnzylber, Lederman& Loayza (2000)Fiala & LaFree(1988)Economic development, income inequality,female labour force participationHomicide in 0-24 year age-group – 61countriesUnemployment, inflation, prison rate, relief Homicide, robbery, burglary in US 1948-1985Family of origin social and economic statusAverage income, income inequalityInequality, unemployment, female status,female labour force participationHomicide and non-fatal violent injuriesinvolving hospitalisationHomicide and robbery rates in countriesChild homicideKaplan et al. (1996) Income inequality Homicide (all mortality) in USKawachi, Kennedy &Wilkinson (1999)Income inequalityKennedy et al. (1998) Income inequalityHomicide, assault, robbery (and propertycrime) in USHomicide, firearm crime, robbery, assault inUS34