Elard Amaya (Collegio Carlo Alberto and University of Turin)
Margherita Tambussi
This paper examines how huaicos extreme weather events increasingly frequent in Andean countries as a consequence of climate change affect the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV). We link a database containing the geocodes, timing, and intensity of huaicos with the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey for the 20102019 period. Using a sample of eventually treated women and exploiting the gradual and exogenous occurrence of these events, our results show that exposure to high-intensity huaicos increases both general and physical IPV (between 21-26%). Additionally, an event-study analysis reveals that these effects are immediate, persistent and increasing over time. As potential mechanisms, we find that huaicos promote heavy alcohol consumption among womens partners and worsen labor market outcomes by raising informal employment, increasing employment in the primary sector, and lowering wages. These results suggest that social-psychological distress and financial stress are key channels through which extreme weather events affect IPV.