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The effects of fiscal policy on households during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Thailand and Vietnam

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  • Bui, Dzung
  • Dräger, Lena
  • Hayo, Bernd
  • Nghiem, Giang

Abstract

The economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic induced many governments to provide financial assistance to households. Using representative consumer surveys conducted during the pandemic in 2020, we examine the effects of this fiscal policy instrument on households in two emerging economies, Thailand and Vietnam. Our paper contributes to the literature by studying how consumer sentiment and durable spending relate to receiving government financial support and the underlying transmission channels for these responses. We find that financial support to households is related to more positive consumer sentiment and increases in actual and planned durable spending, while also being correlated with a more optimistic macroeconomic outlook, higher trust in the government, and higher personal well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Bui, Dzung & Dräger, Lena & Hayo, Bernd & Nghiem, Giang, 2022. "The effects of fiscal policy on households during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Thailand and Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:153:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x22000183
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105828
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ganchimeg Gombodorj & Károly Pető, 2022. "What Type of Households in Mongolia Are Most Hit by COVID-19?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Hai-Anh Dang & Minh Do, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic and the Health and Well-being of Vulnerable People in Vietnam," Working Papers 628, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    3. Bui, Dzung & Dräger, Lena & Hayo, Bernd & Nghiem, Giang, 2022. "The Marginal Propensity to Consume During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Thailand and Vietnam," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-695, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    4. Víctor Manuel Cuevas Ahumada & Cuauhtémoc Calderón Villarreal, 2023. "Government policies and manufacturing production during the COVID-19 pandemic," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, Octubre -.
    5. Bui, Dzung & Dräger, Lena & Hayo, Bernd & Nghiem, Giang, 2023. "Macroeconomic expectations and consumer sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of others’ beliefs," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Pongpitch Amatyakul & Panchanok Jumrustanasan & Pornchanok Tapkham, 2023. "What can 20 billion financial transactions tell us about the impacts of Covid-19 fiscal transfers?," BIS Working Papers 1130, Bank for International Settlements.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal policy; Financial support of households; Consumer sentiment; Durables spending; Macroeconomic expectations; Government trust; COVID-19; Thailand; Vietnam; E62; E71; D12; D83; H31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E71 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on the Macro Economy
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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