Effects of domestic violence on women's labor outcomes evidence from Peru 2007-2012

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of domestic violence (physical, sexual and emotional) on indigenous and non-indigenous Womens’ employment in Peru, where domestic violence levels are the highest in the region. Evidence suggests that the effects of domestic violence are not homogeneous across ethnic groups. Using information from Peru’s Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from 2007 to 2012 and addressing possible endogeneity problems, I find that women’s age, years of education, and pregnancy are correlated with the probability of job exit. Being a victim of violence, therefore, increases the probability of job exit by 6.4pp; this effect is statistically significant and, show that violence against women affects their labor market outcomes. However, I also find that indigenous women are 2.1pp less likely to lose or leave their jobs than non-indigenous women when they suffer violence. This paper contributes an understanding of how violence affects women's labor outcomes by taking account differences by area and ethnic group.