Long-Term Effects of An Education Stipend Program on Domestic Violence : Evidence From Bangladesh

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a widespread global phenomenon. Among various factors, a low level of education is considered a significant risk factor for experiencing IPV. This paper evaluates whether a secondary school stipend program introduced in 1994 for rural girls affected the long-term prevalence of IPV in Bangladesh. Exploiting two sources of variation in the intensity of program exposure and geographic eligibility, we find that cohorts of rural women eligible for the program experienced significant declines in physical and sexual violence. Evidence on mechanisms suggests that the program delayed marriage formation and changed partner quality, namely their education and employment, consistent with positive assortative matching resulting from women’s improved educational attainment. We do not detect significant changes in labor market outcomes, decision-making within the household, or women’s attitude towards acceptability of domestic violence. Marital matches present an important channel through which the program reduces the risk of IPV