Cash transfers, polygamy, and intimate partner violence: Experimental evidence from Mali

• Published in: Journal of development economics 2020-03, Vol.143, p.102410, Article 102410
• Main Authors: Heath, Rachel, Hidrobo, Melissa, Roy, Shalini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cash transfers; Gender; Intimate partner violence; Polygamy; Social protection
• ISSN: 0304-3878; 1872-6089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2019.102410

Cash transfer programs primarily targeting women in Latin America and East Africa have been shown to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), but knowledge gaps remain on how impacts differ by program features and context. Using a randomized control trial, we investigate the IPV impacts of Mali’s national cash transfer program (Jigisémèjiri), which targets household heads (primarily men) in a West African context where nearly 40 percent of households are polygamous. The program causes significant decreases in IPV in polygamous households – where physical violence decreases by 7.2 percentage points, emotional violence decreases by 12.6 percentage points, and controlling behaviors decrease by 16.1 percentage points -- but has limited effects in monogamous households. Evidence on mechanisms suggests that the program leads to significant decreases in men’s stress and anxiety among polygamous households, and larger reductions in disputes in polygamous households compared to monogamous households. •In a West African context where nearly 40 percent of households are polygamous.•We investigate impacts on intimate partner violence (IPV) of a national cash transfer program in Mali.•We find significant decreases in IPV in polygamous households but limited impacts in monogamous households.•Mechanisms include significant decreases in men’s stress and anxiety.•In addition to larger reductions in disputes in polygamous households compared to monogamous households.