The Economic Effects of COVID-19 Containment Measures

The Economic Effects of COVID-19 Containment Measures PDF Author: Pragyan Deb
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781513550251
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 44

Book Description
Containment measures are crucial to halt the spread of the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic but entail large short-term economic costs. This paper tries to quantify these effects using daily global data on real-time containment measures and indicators of economic activity such as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions, flights, energy consumption, maritime trade, and mobility indices. Results suggest that containment measures have had, on average, a very large impact on economic activity--equivalent to a loss of about 15 percent in industrial production over a 30-day period following their implementation. Using novel data on fiscal and monetary policy measures used in response to the crisis, we find that these policy measures were effective in mitigating some of these economic costs. We also find that while workplace closures and stay-at-home orders are more effective in curbing infections, they are associated with the largest economic costs. Finally, while easing of containment measures has led to a pickup in economic activity, the effect has been lower (in absolute value) than that from the tightening of measures.

Economic Activity, Fiscal Space and Types of COVID-19 Containment Measures

Economic Activity, Fiscal Space and Types of COVID-19 Containment Measures PDF Author: Amr Hosny
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1616357215
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 49

Book Description
This paper argues that the type of COVID-19 containment measures affects the trade-offs between infection cases, economic activity and sovereign risk. Using local projection methods and a year and a half of high-frequency daily data covering 44 advanced and emerging economies, we find that smart (e.g. testing) as opposed to physical (e.g. lockdown) measures appear to be best placed to tackle these trade-offs. Initial conditions also matter whereby containment measures can be less disruptive when public health response time is fast and public debt is low. We also construct a database of daily fiscal announcements for Euro area countries, and find that sovereign risk is improved under a combination of large support packages and smart measures.

COVID-19 Containment Measures and Expected Stock Volatility: High-Frequency Evidence from Selected Advanced Economies

COVID-19 Containment Measures and Expected Stock Volatility: High-Frequency Evidence from Selected Advanced Economies PDF Author: Viral V. Acharya
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513573500
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 43

Book Description
We study the effect of COVID-19 containment measures on expected stock price volatility in some advanced economies, using event studies with hand-collected minute-level data and panel regressions with daily data. We find that six-month-ahead volatility indices dropped following announcements of initial or re-imposed lockdowns, and that they did not drop significantly following the easing of lockdowns. Such patterns are not as strong for three-month-ahead expected volatility and generally absent for one-month-ahead expected volatility. These results provide suggestive evidence for the existence of an intertemporal trade-off: although stringent containment measures cause short-term economic disruptions, they may reduce medium-term uncertainty (reflected in expected stock volatility) by boosting markets’ confidence that the outbreak would be under control more quickly.

The Effect of Containment Measures on the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Effect of Containment Measures on the COVID-19 Pandemic PDF Author: Pragyan Deb
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781513550268
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Book Description
Countries have implemented several containment measures to halt the spread of the 2019coronavirus disease, but it remains unclear the extent to which these unprecedented measureshave been successful. We examine this question using daily data on the number ofcoronavirus disease cases as well as on real-time containment measures implemented bycountries. Results suggest that these measures have been very effective in flattening the"pandemic curve", but there is significant heterogeneity across countries. Effectiveness isenhanced when measures are implemented quickly, where de facto mobility is curtailed, incountries with lower temperatures and population density, as well as in countries with alarger share of the elderly in total population and stronger health systems. We also find thateasing of containment measures has resulted in an increase in the number of cases, but theeffect has been lower (in absolute value) than that from a tightening of measures.

OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2020 Issue 1

OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2020 Issue 1 PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264700617
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 327

Book Description
The OECD Economic Outlook is the OECD's twice-yearly analysis of the major economic trends and prospects for the next two years. This issue includes a general assessment of the macroeconomic situation, a series of notes on the macroeconomic and structural policy issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak and a chapter summarising developments and providing projections for each individual country.

State-Level Health and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India

State-Level Health and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India PDF Author: Mr. Pragyan Deb
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1616354690
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 40

Book Description
The health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on India have been substantial, with wide variation across states and union territories. This paper quantifies the impact of containment measures and voluntary social distancing on both the spread of the virus and the economy at the state level during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We construct a de-facto measure of state-level social distancing, combining containment strigency and observed mobility trends. State-level empirical analysis suggests that social distancing and containment measures effectively reduced case numbers, but came with high economic costs. State characteristics, such as health care infrastructure and the share of services in the economy, played an important role in shaping the health and economic outcomes, highlighting the importance of adequate social spending, health care infrastructure, and social safety nets.

The Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines on Economic Activity

The Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines on Economic Activity PDF Author: Mr. Pragyan Deb
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589063767
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 47

Book Description
This paper empirically examines the economic effects of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts using a cross-country daily database of vaccinations and high frequency indicators of economic activity—nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and Google mobility indices—for a sample of 46 countries over the period December 16, 2020 to June 20, 2021. Using surprises in vaccines administered, we find that an unexpected increase in vaccination per capita is associated with a significant increase in economic activity. We also find evidence for non-linear effects of vaccines, with the marginal economic benefits being larger when vaccination rates are higher. Country-specific conditions play an important role, with lower economic gains if strict containment measures are in place or if the country is experiencing a severe outbreak. Finally, the results provide evidence of spillovers across borders, highlighting the importance of equitable access to vaccines across nations.

Monetary Policy and COVID-19

Monetary Policy and COVID-19 PDF Author: Michal Brzoza-Brzezina
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1616356308
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Book Description
We study the macroeconomic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic in a quantitative dynamic general equilibrium setup with nominal rigidities. We evaluate various containment policies and show that they allow to dramatically reduce the welfare cost of the disease. Then we investigate the role that monetary policy, in its capacity to manage aggregate demand, should play during the epidemic. According to our results, treating the observed output contraction as a standard recession leads to overly expansionary policy. Finally, we check how central banks should resolve the trade-off between stabilizing the economy and containing the epidemic. If no administrative restrictions are in place, the second motive prevails and, despite the deep recession, optimal monetary policy is in fact contractionary. Conversely, if sufficient containment measures are introduced, central bank interventions should be expansionary and help stabilize economic activity.

Smart Containment: Lessons from Countries with Past Experience

Smart Containment: Lessons from Countries with Past Experience PDF Author: Alexandra Fotiou
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 151358247X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 54

Book Description
Following the Great Lockdown in 2020, it is important to take stock of lessons learned. How effective have different containment measures been in slowing the spread of Covid-19? Have containment measures been costly in terms of economic growth, fiscal balances, and accumulated debt? This paper finds that countries with previous SARS experience acted fast and "smart", and were able to contain the virus by relying mainly on public health measures ─ testing, contact tracing, and public information campaigns ─ rather than stay-at-home requirements. Using past coronavirus outbreaks as an instrumental variable, we show that countries with past experience were able to contain the virus in a smart way, reducing transmission and deaths while also experiencing higher economic growth in 2020.

The Sooner (and the Smarter), the Better: COVID-19 Containment Measures and Fiscal Responses

The Sooner (and the Smarter), the Better: COVID-19 Containment Measures and Fiscal Responses PDF Author: Amr Hosny
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 151357163X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 23

Book Description
This paper finds empirical evidence that faster and smarter containment measures were associated with lower fiscal responses to the COVID-19 shock. We also find that initial conditions, such as fiscal space, income, health preparedness and budget transparency were important in shaping the amount and design of the COVID-19 fiscal response.