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Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions in Costa Rica: a Local Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Jose Pablo Barquero-Romero

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

  • Esteban Méndez-Chacón

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

  • Carlos Segura-Rodriguez

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have implemented restrictive measures to impede mobility, aiming to reduce the number of infections and deaths caused by the disease. However, these measures harm economic activity. This study uses municipality variation in the restrictions that the government has implemented in Costa Rica to measure the effects of these restrictions on economic activity and health outcomes. We collect data on the sanitary alerts and restrictions announced by the government from March 15th, 2020 to July 31st, 2021, and use electricity consumption to approximate economic activity. We estimate that imposing a more restrictive sanitary alert reduces the weekly growth rate number of cases by 7% and of deaths by 10%, but it reduces commercial electricity consumption by 1.5%, which we associate with a decrease in economic activity of about 1.88%. ***Resumen: Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, los gobiernos implementaron medidas para restringir la movilidad de las personas, esto con el objetivo de reducir el número de infecciones y muertes causadas por la enfermedad. Sin embargo, estas medidas también perjudicaron la actividad económica. Para aproximar el efecto que estas restricciones tuvieron sobre la actividad económica y la salud de la población, este estudio utiliza los cambios en las restricciones que implementó el gobierno de Costa Rica por municipio (cantón). Se recopilaron datos sobre las alertas y restricciones sanitarias anunciadas por el gobierno del 15 de marzo de 2020 al 31 de julio de 2021, y se utilizó el consumo de electricidad para aproximar la actividad económica. Los resultados de las estimaciones muestran que imponer una alerta sanitaria más restrictiva redujo la tasa de crecimiento semanal de casos de COVID-19 en un 7 % y las muertes en un 10 %; sin embargo, también redujo el consumo eléctrico comercial en un 1,5 %, lo que se puede asociar con una disminución en el nivel de la actividad económica de alrededor 1,88 %

Suggested Citation

  • Jose Pablo Barquero-Romero & Esteban Méndez-Chacón & Carlos Segura-Rodriguez, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions in Costa Rica: a Local Approach," Documentos de Trabajo 2205, Banco Central de Costa Rica.
    • Handle: RePEc:apk:doctra:2205
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    File URL: https://repositorioinvestigaciones.bccr.fi.cr/handle/20.500.12506/368
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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