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Why Cash Transfers Are Good Policy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Listed:
  • R. Anton Braun
  • Daisuke Ikeda

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an exceptionally large and negative impact on economic activity around the world. We show that cash transfers can be a useful policy tool during the pandemic. Cash transfers mitigate consumption inequality induced by the pandemic and provide incentives to individuals who are most negatively affected by lockdown policies to adhere to them.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Anton Braun & Daisuke Ikeda, 2020. "Why Cash Transfers Are Good Policy in the COVID-19 Pandemic," Policy Hub, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, vol. 2020(4), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:a00068:99133
    DOI: 10.29338/ph2020-04
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hara, Ryota & Unayama, Takashi & Weidner, Justin, 2016. "The wealthy hand to mouth in Japan," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 52-54.
    2. Martin S Eichenbaum & Sergio Rebelo & Mathias Trabandt, 2021. "The Macroeconomics of Epidemics [Economic activity and the spread of viral diseases: Evidence from high frequency data]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(11), pages 5149-5187.
    3. R. Anton Braun & Daisuke Ikeda & Douglas H. Joines, 2009. "The Saving Rate In Japan: Why It Has Fallen And Why It Will Remain Low," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 50(1), pages 291-321, February.
    4. Farboodi, Maryam & Jarosch, Gregor & Shimer, Robert, 2021. "Internal and external effects of social distancing in a pandemic," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19 pandemic; cash transfers; stimulus payments; inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H84 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Disaster Aid

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