Economic abuse

Economic abuse is the use of power and control where money or property is used to dominate, exploit or harm another person. It may involve, for example, restricting a partner’s access to money, pressuring them to take on debt, or preventing them from working.

Economic abuse can have serious consequences for the victim, such as worry about coping with everyday expenses, poverty, indebtedness and psychological strain.

What is economic abuse?

Economic abuse can take many forms and may occur alongside other forms of violence, such as psychological or physical violence. It can happen in an intimate relationship, within a family, or in other close relationships.

Common forms of economic abuse include:

• Controlling finances: managing, monitoring or restricting another person’s income, spending or bank account without their consent
• Pressuring someone to take debt: for example forcing a partner to take out high-interest quick loans
• Misusing shared funds: using joint savings for one’s own needs without the other person’s permission
• Preventing work or studies: attempts to undermine another person’s financial independence
• Post-separation economic abuse: for example failing to pay child maintenance or delaying the division of property
• Financial exploitation of older people or people with reduced functional capacity, for example when an adult child demands money from an elderly parent, or when a legal guardian uses an older person’s funds for personal purposes

Anyone can be subjected to economic abuse, but people in particularly vulnerable positions include older people, children, persons with disabilities and migrant women.

Consequences of economic abuse

Economic abuse can cause long-lasting financial, psychological and physical harm.

• Financial consequences: indebtedness, loss of assets, legal costs
• Everyday life becomes difficult if you cannot make necessary purchases, such as buying clothes or medicines. Economic abuse may lead to having to give up hobbies or being unable to save for larger purchases.
• Psychological consequences: stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
• Social isolation: dependence on the perpetrator, difficulty seeking help
• Long-term insecurity: loss of credit records, limited employment opportunities

Many victims do not recognise economic abuse or do not dare to seek help due to fear, shame or dependency.

Economic abuse may constitute a criminal offence

Finnish criminal law does not include a specific offence titled “economic abuse”, but certain acts may meet the elements of a crime, such as:

• Fraud (misleading someone to obtain financial benefit)
• Forgery
• Embezzlement (taking someone else’s property for oneself without permission)
• Unlawful threat (for example threatening financial harm)

After separation, economic abuse may appear as neglecting child maintenance payments or destroying an ex-partner’s property. Legal remedies may include a restraining order and claims for damages.

Where can you get help?

If you suspect you have experienced economic abuse:

• Keep evidence (take screenshots, save receipts and messages, etc.)
• If needed, make a police report
• Seek help:
• Victim Support Finland 116 006, RIKUchat (in Finnish) and phone-based legal advice 0800 161 177
• Financial and debt counselling
• The Guarantee Foundation (Takuusäätiö) – help with debt problems
• Municipal social services
• A legal aid office or a private lawyer

It is worth speaking up about economic abuse and seeking help early. Everyone has the right to financial independence and safety.

Source: The page has been compiled using, among other sources, materials produced by the Taloudellinen väkivalta tutuksi project.

Read more

Economic abuse on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) website