Understanding economic harm and economic abuse
Economic harm
Economic harm is the consequence of behaviours which control, restrict or exploit a person’s access to economic resources. This includes access to essential services as well as employment, education, housing and transport.
People who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing economic harm, could be:
subject to the intentional acts of person or perpetrator, in the case of economic or financial abuse,
and/or
subject to the unintentional acts of harm by institutions they interact with due to systems and processes that do not adequately support them when they need it.
We use 'economic harm' as it incorporates interventions required at a system, product & service, perpetrator and victim-survivor level.
Economic abuse
Economic abuse is a deliberate action or behaviour perpetrated by a person that controls, restricts or exploits another person’s resources.
Unlike some other forms of control, economic abuse does not require physical proximity to perpetrate. This means that it can start, continue or escalate post-separation, even if the abuser does not know where the victim is.
'Financial abuse' is similar to 'economic abuse' but specifically means the use of finances and money as a form of control or coercion.
A framework for our success
We know that no single organisation or sector can do this alone. Alignment of purpose is critical if we are to create lasting impact.
