What Works in Reducing Economic Violence Against Women: Global Evidence From a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed randomized controlled trials of interventions addressing economic violence against partnered women. It included 49 studies from 31 low- and middle-income countries, covering 106,868 individuals and 397 effect-size estimates. Interventions included economic empowerment, health, and gender-transformative programs, most of which had multiple components. Overall, interventions were associated with a statistically significant reduction in economic violence (Hedges' g -0.076, p < .01). The largest effects were reported for couple-targeted interventions and studies conducted in South Asia, although economic violence was often not explicitly defined or comprehensively measured.

Key findings

• Across the included trials, interventions significantly reduced economic violence (Hedges' g -0.076, p < .01).
• The largest effects were reported for interventions targeting couples and for studies conducted in South Asia.
• Only 12 studies explicitly defined economic violence as an outcome; most measured individual components, particularly economic control.
• Victimization was assessed in 48 studies, whereas perpetration was assessed in 6.

Why it matters

Economic violence can undermine women's financial welfare, independence, and health. The pooled findings suggest that interventions may reduce this form of intimate partner violence, while the limited measurement of its full scope makes the evidence difficult to interpret. Clearer definitions and culturally adapted measures could help programs and evaluations address economic control, exploitation, and other forms more comprehensively.

What to keep in mind

Most studies assessed individual subcomponents rather than explicitly defined economic violence; perpetration was rarely measured, and all included studies were from low- and middle-income countries.