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Health, Human Capital and Domestic Violence.
Nicholas W Papageorge1, Gwyn C Pauley2, Mardge Cohen3
1Economics at the Johns Hopkins University, an IZA research fellow, and an NBER faculty research fellow.
The Journal of Human Resources
|March 24, 2022
Summary
Improved health through HIV treatment incentivized women to reduce domestic violence and drug use. This study highlights health as human capital, influencing life choices and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Health is viewed as a component of human capital.
- Investments in health can yield future benefits.
- Women with greater human capital may have stronger incentives for self-protective behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between improved health and reduced risky behaviors in women.
- To test the hypothesis that enhanced human capital (health) leads to greater investment in future payoffs.
- To examine the impact of improved longevity on domestic violence and drug use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) as a quasi-experimental event.
- Compared changes in domestic violence and drug use among HIV-positive women before and after HAART introduction.
- Employed a control group of healthier women to mitigate confounding factors from secular trends.
Main Results:
- HIV-positive women experiencing increased life expectancy post-HAART showed a 15% decrease in domestic violence.
- Drug use among these women decreased by 15-20% following HAART implementation.
- Control group analysis confirmed that observed changes were linked to the HIV treatment, not general trends.
Conclusions:
- Improvements in health, conceptualized as human capital, significantly reduce costly investments in negative behaviors like domestic violence and drug use.
- HAART's impact on longevity demonstrates a clear pathway through which health interventions can influence social and behavioral outcomes.
- Policy implications suggest that health improvements can serve as a powerful tool for promoting safer and healthier lifestyles.
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