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Back to trend: COVID effects on E-commerce in 44 countries

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  • Alcedo, Joel
  • Cavallo, Alberto
  • Mishra, Prachi
  • Spilimbergo, Antonio

Abstract

We study online spending shares in 44 economies and 26 industries during the COVID-19 pandemic, using online transaction data from Mastercard. The online shares of total credit card transactions surged during the pandemic during lockdowns, but since returned to pre-pandemic trends in most countries. The differences between countries are strongly correlated with the mobility and fiscal measures. There is little evidence of permanent structural changes in e-commerce spending patterns. Finally, we estimate that COVID-19-related restrictions on in-person spending imposed average welfare costs of 7 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Alcedo, Joel & Cavallo, Alberto & Mishra, Prachi & Spilimbergo, Antonio, 2025. "Back to trend: COVID effects on E-commerce in 44 countries," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:85:y:2025:i:c:s0164070425000199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2025.103682
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    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • E00 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - General
    • F00 - International Economics - - General - - - General

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