The costs of interpersonal violence - An international review
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
9-8-2005
Journal
Health Policy
Volume
73
Issue
3
DOI
10.1016/j.healthpol.2004.11.022
Keywords
Cost-benefit analysis; Cost-effectiveness analysis; Costs; Economic evaluation; Violence
Abstract
This article reviews evidence of the economic impact of interpersonal violence internationally. In the United States, estimates of the costs of interpersonal violence reach 3.3% of GDP. The public sector - and thus society in general - bears the majority of these costs. Interpersonal violence is defined to include violence between family members and intimate partners, and violence between acquaintances and strangers that is not intended to further the aims of any formally defined group or cause. Although these types of violence disproportionately affect poorer countries, there is a scarcity of studies of their economic impact in these countries. International comparisons are complicated by the calculation of economic losses based on foregone wages and income, thus undervaluing economic losses in poorer countries.
APA Citation
Waters, H., Hyder, A., Rajkotia, Y., Basu, S., & Butchart, A. (2005). The costs of interpersonal violence - An international review. Health Policy, 73 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2004.11.022