Georgia Policy Labs Reports
Child Abuse & Neglect: Developing an Economic Understanding
Author ORCID Identifier
Alexa Prettyman https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0498-3561
David C. Ribar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0465-4875
Files
Download Full Text
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
5-24-2022
Abstract
Child maltreatment is a prevalent and costly problem. Millions of children worldwide experience some form of parental maltreatment, and it has lasting consequences, costing society trillions of dollars. This report from Alexa Prettyman and David C. Ribar examines child maltreatment through an economic lens, building on theoretical approaches for conceptualizing how different types of maltreatment occur. In addition, this report describes available data sources, spotlighting the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States. Finally, the report reviews the incidence of child maltreatment and the evidence on risk factors, consequences, and promising interventions. Risk factors can be categorized into six groups: parent or caregiver factors, child factors, family factors, community or environmental factors, factors for recurrence, and co-occurring factors. Parent or caregiver factors and family factors seem to be the strongest predictors of child maltreatment. Economists should care about child maltreatment because the consequences, such as poor health and delinquency, contribute to inequality and reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of other social investments. In general, more evidence is needed to better understand the causal mechanisms of the different types of maltreatment and to implement more effective policies.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/30728970
Recommended Citation
Prettyman, A., & Ribar, D. (2022). Child Abuse & Neglect: Developing an Economic Understanding. Georgia Policy Labs. https://doi.org/10.57709/30728970