The Economic Impacts of Gender-Based Violence and Harassment

Gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment remain widespread, with far-reaching consequences. This review synthesizes the emerging economics literature on GBV, highlighting its methodological challenges, economic impacts, and policy responses. We first examine the difficulties of measuring GBV, including underreporting, definitional variation, and the limits of administrative versus survey data. We then survey evidence on the economic costs of GBV, which span reduced employment, earnings, and educational attainment for survivors as well as broader harms to families, peers, firms, and societies. Finally, we review evidence on prevention and mitigation strategies, including deterrence through sanctions, shifts in workplace and social norms, and survivor support programs. The literature shows that the economics costs of GBV are large, persistent, and measurable, underscoring the urgency of rigorous policy interventions and continued research.