Overstretched: Financial Distress and Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S.

This study examines how financial distress within households affects intimate partner violence (IPV) in the United States. By leveraging the timing of bank closures and fixed wage payment schedules, we identify months when households are likely forced to stretch their finances due to changes in their regular payment schedules. Using monthly records from the National Crime Victimization Survey, we find that these relatively minor shocks significantly increase the likelihood of women experiencing IPV. We further present evidence of worsened financial conditions during these periods by documenting changes in household behavior, in terms of expenditures and time use.