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The Unequal Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Evidence from Seventeen Developing Countries

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  • Bottan, Nicolas L.
  • Hoffmann, Bridget
  • Vera-Cossio, Diego A.

Abstract

The current coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented public health challenge that has devastating economic impacts for households. Using a sample of 230,540 respondents to online surveys in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, we show that the economic impacts are large and unequal: 45% of respondents report that a household member lost a job, and among households owning small businesses, 59% of respondents report that a household member closed their business. Among households with the lowest income prior to the pandemic, 71% report that a household member lost their job and 61% report that a household member closed their business. Declines in food security and healthiness are among the disproportionate impacts. Our results provide evidence that the current public health crisis will exacerbate economic inequality, and they are among the rst estimates of the labor market and wellbeing impacts of the pandemic in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Bottan, Nicolas L. & Hoffmann, Bridget & Vera-Cossio, Diego A., 2020. "The Unequal Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Evidence from Seventeen Developing Countries," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 10582, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:10582
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0002451
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    1. Thiemo R. Fetzer & Marc Witte & Lukas Hensel & Jon Jachimowicz & Johannes Haushofer & Andriy Ivchenko & Stefano Caria & Elena Reutskaja & Christopher P. Roth & Stefano Fiorin & Margarita Gómez & Gordo, 2020. "Global Behaviors and Perceptions at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 27082, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Fetzer, Thiemo & Witte, Marc & Hensel, Lukas & Jachimowicz, Jon M. & Haushofer, Johannes & Ivchenko, Andriy & Reutskaja, Elena & Roth, Christopher & Gomez, Margarita & Kraft-Todd, Gordon & Goetz, Frie, 2020. "Global Behaviors and Perceptions in the COVID-19 Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 14631, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labor markets; Inequality; Public Health; Coronavirus Pandemic;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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