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Unintended consequences of lockdowns, COVID-19 and the Shadow Pandemic in India

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  • Saravana Ravindran

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Manisha Shah

    (University of California Los Angeles and NBER)

Abstract

Violence against women is a problem worldwide, with economic costs ranging from 1% to 4% of global gross domestic product. During the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdowns, the United Nations coined the term the Shadow Pandemic to describe the increase in global violence against women. Here, using variation in the intensity of government-mandated lockdowns in India, we show that domestic violence complaints increase significantly in districts with the strictest lockdown rules. We find similarly large increases in cybercrime complaints. However, rape and sexual assault complaints decrease in districts with the strictest lockdowns, consistent with decreased female mobility in public spaces, public transport and workplaces where they might be at greater risk for rape and sexual assault. Medium-term analysis shows that increases in domestic violence complaints persist 1 year later, while other complaints related to rape, sexual assault and cybercrimes return to pre-lockdown levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Saravana Ravindran & Manisha Shah, 2023. "Unintended consequences of lockdowns, COVID-19 and the Shadow Pandemic in India," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 323-331, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1038_s41562-022-01513-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01513-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Roman, Soraya & Aguiar-Palma, Marina & Machado, Cecilia, 2023. "A tale of two cities: Heterogeneous effects of COVID-19 quarantine on domestic violence in Brazil," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    2. Abu S. Shonchoy & Shatakshee Dhongde & Erdal Asker, 2023. "COVID-19 Lockdown and Neonatal Mortality: Evidence from India," Working Papers 2303, Florida International University, Department of Economics.
    3. Rocha, Fabiana & Diaz, Maria Dolores Montoya & Pereda, Paula Carvalho & Árabe, Isadora Bousquat & Cavalcanti, Filipe & Lordemus, Samuel & Kreif, Noemi & Moreno-Serra, Rodrigo, 2024. "COVID-19 and violence against women: Current knowledge, gaps, and implications for public policy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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