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The macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 on occupations.

Authors :
Li, Xinru
Source :
Portuguese Economic Journal; Sep2024, Vol. 23 Issue 3, p439-458, 20p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

We adopt a pandemic-macroeconomic model to simulate the macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 on various occupations under both laissez-faire and government lockdown scenarios. We integrate a SIR model of virus transmission into a simplified neoclassical model and categorize occupations into two groups based on their ability to work remotely. Subsequently, we assess the shock impact of the pandemic on GDP, consumption, and working hours of flexible and rigid occupations. We find that these three variables declined during the pandemic, yet the consumption varied among individuals with different health status. The labour market experienced a recession, with workers in flexible occupations experiencing a relatively milder impact compared to those in rigid occupations. A larger proportion of remote work mitigated the recessionary effects, although it accentuated the disparities between occupations' income and working hours. The implementation of lockdown policies detrimentally affects welfare, similar to the pandemic itself, but the impact on flexible and rigid occupations differs from that in a laissez-faire scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1617982X
Volume :
23
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Portuguese Economic Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
179041918
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10258-023-00249-y