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Covid-19 and the self-employed: six months into the crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Jack Blundell
  • Stephen Machin
  • Maria Ventura

Abstract

Six months after Covid-19 first hit, it is clear that it is the greatest economic crisis of the modern age. The economy has contracted far more rapidly than in previous crises, with GDP dropping by a record 19.5 per cent in April, and despite four subsequent consecutive monthly increases since then, remaining 9.2 per cent below the February 2020 level in August. Early indicators suggest at best a slow recovery that is stalling as the country faces a new wave of cases and harsher and localised restrictions on economic activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack Blundell & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2020. "Covid-19 and the self-employed: six months into the crisis," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-012, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepcvd:cepcovid-19-012
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    File URL: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/cepcovid-19-012.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Armin Falk & Anke Becker & Thomas Dohmen & Benjamin Enke & David Huffman & Uwe Sunde, 2018. "Global Evidence on Economic Preferences," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 133(4), pages 1645-1692.
    2. Armin Falk & Anke Becker & Thomas Dohmen & David Huffman & Uwe Sunde, 2023. "The Preference Survey Module: A Validated Instrument for Measuring Risk, Time, and Social Preferences," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(4), pages 1935-1950, April.
    3. Claudia Hupkau & Barbara Petrongolo, 2020. "Work, Care and Gender during the COVID‐19 Crisis," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 623-651, September.
    4. Armin Falk & Anke Becker & Thomas Dohmen & Benjamin Enke & David B. Huffman & Uwe Sunde, 2017. "Global Evidence on Economic Preferences," NBER Working Papers 23943, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Jack Blundell & Stephen Machin, 2020. "Self-employment in the Covid-19 crisis," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-003, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    6. Nicholas Bloom & Philip Bunn & Paul Mizen & Pawel Smietanka & Gregory Thwaites, 2020. "The impact of Covid-19 on businesses’ expectations: evidence from the Decision Maker Panel," Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Bank of England, vol. 60(3), pages 1-1.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Brian Bell & Nicholas Bloom & Jack Blundell, 2021. "This time is not so different: income dynamics during the Covid-19 recession," POID Working Papers 012, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Fisayo Fagbemi & Tolulope T. Osinubi & Olufemi S. Olatunde, 2022. "COVID-19 and Unemployment: Showcasing Sub-Saharan African Experience," Jindal Journal of Business Research, , vol. 11(1), pages 24-33, June.
    3. Robert Blackburn & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2021. "Covid-19 and the self-employed - 18 months into the crisis," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-025, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Federica Alfani & Fabio Clementi & Michele Fabiani & Vasco Molini & Francesco Schettino, 2024. "Underestimating the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Income Distribution in the U.S. and Brazil," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-32, September.
    5. Robert Blackburn & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2026. "Road to recovery: Self-employed on the mend?," CEP Reports 53, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    6. Jack Blundell & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2021. "Covid-19 and the self-employed - ten months into the crisis," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-019, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    7. Robert Blackburn & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2023. "From Covid-19 to collapse? The self-employed and the cost of living crisis," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-029, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    8. Robert Blackburn & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2022. "Covid-19 and the self-employed - A two year update," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-028, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    9. Nicholas Sowels, 2023. "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Incomes, Inequality and Poverty in the United Kingdom," Post-Print hal-04369009, HAL.
    10. J. Q. Cheong, 2022. "A global review of COVID-19 Assistance Program for Small Business," GATR Journals jber218, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.

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