The economic dimensions of gender-based violence
Gender-based violence has consequences that extend beyond the immediate harm to victims. In an interview with the American University of Armenia, Maria Perrotta Berlin of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) discusses how economic research can help us understand violence, challenge assumptions, and inform more effective policies.
Gender-based violence is often approached as a question of human rights and personal safety. But what can economics tell us about its causes, consequences, and possible solutions?
Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor at the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) at the Stockholm School of Economics, joined the AUA Focus Series for a conversation about intimate partner violence, social norms, and the role of economic research in shaping policy.
“Gender-based violence is difficult to observe directly because it occurs behind closed doors, resulting in massive under-reporting,” says Perrotta Berlin.
Understanding what the data tells us
One of the challenges in studying gender-based violence is that much of it goes unreported. Differences in attitudes, awareness, and willingness to disclose abuse can make it difficult to compare countries and assess the true scale of the problem.
In the interview, Perrotta Berlin discusses the surprising patterns found in international survey data and why policies do not always have the expected effect on intimate partner violence.
She also explores the long-term economic consequences of violence and the particular challenges facing societies affected by conflict and displacement.
Research collaboration between AUA and SITE
The conversation followed a seminar held on October 15 at the American University of Armenia (AUA) in Yerevan, as part of a joint project between AUA and SITE. Funded by the Swedish Institute, the initiative aims to address gender gaps through economic research in Armenia.
The collaboration has also contributed to AUA joining the FREE Network (Forum for Research on Eastern Europe and Emerging Economies) and its gender economics initiative, FROGEE (Forum for Research on Gender Economics).
In the interview, Perrotta Berlin reflects on how better data, an understanding of social norms, and cooperation between researchers and policymakers can contribute to more effective responses to gender-based violence.
Photo: Shutterstock
Watch the full AUA Focus Series interview with Maria Perrotta Berlin
