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Bargaining under Threats: The Effect of Joint Custody Laws on Intimate Partner Violence

Author

Listed:
  • Fernández-Kranz, Daniel

    (IE Business School, Madrid)

  • Nollenberger, Natalia

    (IE University)

  • Roff, Jennifer Louise

    (Queens College, CUNY)

Abstract
We study the effect of a policy change that exogenously shifted bargaining power from mothers to fathers on intimate partner violence. We exploit a quasi-natural experiment based on a series of reforms in Spain that shifted the custody decision from being unilaterally determined by the mother to a joint decision, barring evidence of violence. We find that the policy increased the incidence of joint custody in Spain from less than 11% of all divorces to 40% in just five years. Comparing the evolution of intimate partner violence in treated and control regions and using couples without children as an additional comparison group, we find that the policy led to a large and significant decrease in intimate partner violence, with the largest effects among couples in which the mother was more likely to seek sole custody before the policy change. Consistent with this finding, the policy also led to a significant reduction in female partner homicides in treated regions. Finally, we also find evidence of more police reports by victims of intimate partner violence with a significantly higher proportion of these reports ending in dismissals or non-guilty decisions by the specialized courts. We interpret this finding as evidence of strategic behavior by mothers who want to retain sole custody of their children.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernández-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia & Roff, Jennifer Louise, 2020. "Bargaining under Threats: The Effect of Joint Custody Laws on Intimate Partner Violence," IZA Discussion Papers 13810, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Audra J. Bowlus & Shannon Seitz, 2006. "Domestic Violence, Employment, And Divorce," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 47(4), pages 1113-1149, November.
    5. Betsey Stevenson & Justin Wolfers, 2006. "Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 121(1), pages 267-288.
    6. Martin Halla, 2013. "The Effect Of Joint Custody On Family Outcomes," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 278-315, April.
    7. Campbell, J.C. & Webster, D. & Koziol-McLain, J. & Block, C. & Campbell, D. & Curry, M.A. & Gary, F. & Glass, N. & McFarlane, J. & Sachs, C. & Sharps, P. & Ulrich, Y. & Wilt, S.A. & Manganello, J. & X, 2003. "Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results from a Multisite Case Control Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(7), pages 1089-1097.
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    9. Amy Farmer & Jill Tiefenthaler, 1997. "An Economic Analysis of Domestic Violence," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(3), pages 337-358.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fernandez-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia, 2022. "The impact of equal parenting time laws on family outcomes and risky behavior by teenagers: Evidence from Spain," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 303-325.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intimate partner violence; joint custody; divorce; household bargaining models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • K36 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Family and Personal Law

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