Peer-reviewed article
The Socio-Structural Roots of Violence Against Children: Evidence from India
Devika Hazra ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at how state-level economic output (GDP per capita) and policing capacity relate to recorded crimes against children across Indian states over time. It uses longitudinal administrative crime data and a linear regression with panel-corrected standard errors. The authors report a nonlinear relationship between GDP per capita and crimes against children, and a significant association between policing capacity and reported crimes. They caution that official crime data should be interpreted carefully when designing child protection policy.
Key points
- The study examines state-level GDP per capita and crimes against children across Indian states over time.
- Results indicate a nonlinear relationship between GDP per capita and crimes against children.
- There is a significant association between police per capita and reported crimes.
- The study separates economic development from state capacity.
- The authors urge caution in interpreting official crime data when designing child protection policy.
Limitations
The abstract does not give effect sizes, the study period, or the exact shape of the nonlinear relationship. It is an observational association study of recorded crime, so it cannot show causes or the true level of violence, since reported crime may reflect policing and reporting as well as actual violence.
Abstract
Violence against children (VAC) is a pervasive public health concern with profound and lasting consequences for physical, mental, and social well-being. While prior research has linked economic stressors such as unemployment to child maltreatment, less is known about the association between broader measures of economic development and VAC, particularly in lowand middle-income countries. This study examines the association between state-level GDP per capita and crimes against children across Indian states over time, incorporating police per capita as a secondary indicator of institutional capacity. Using longitudinal administrative crime data from, results of a linear regression with panel correction standard errors, indicate a nonlinear relationship between GDP per capita and crimes against children. Additionally, there is a significant association between policing capacity and reported crimes. By distinguishing between economic development and state capacity, this study contributes new longitudinal evidence from a large LMIC context and underscores the need for caution in interpreting official crime data when designing child protection policy.