The Role of a Weak Rule of Law in Rising Violence Against Women in Mexico

Abstract

Corruption and violence have been the main threats for Mexicans during the last decade. Violence has many facets: violence against women being one of the most alarming ones. Since 2011, homicides with female victims have increased by 30%. The objective of this paper is to analyze the possible relationship between violence against women and corruption. Two main channels drive the analysis: (1) corruption weakening the institutional framework that creates an environment conducive to criminal activities, and (2) impunity and corruption fostering criminal activities because they are likely to remain unpunished. The research also acknowledges the existence of historical and cultural factors that influence the vulnerability of women. Using state-level data from 2011-2017 across the 32 states of Mexico, I find that higher levels of corruption are associated with higher incidents of violence against women. From a policy perspective, my results show that measures aimed at mitigating corruption in the country might produce substantial positive second-round effects in reducing violence against women in Mexico.