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IT Shields: Technology Adoption and Economic Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Mr. Nicola Pierri
  • Mr. Yannick Timmer

Abstract

We study the economic effects of information technology (IT) adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data on IT adoption covering almost three million establishments in the US, we find that technology adoption can partly shield the economy from the impact of the pandemic. In areas where firms adopted more IT the unemployment rate rose less in response to social distancing. Our estimates imply that if the pandemic had hit the world 5 years ago, the resulting unemployment rate would have been 2 percentage points higher during April and May 2020 (16% vs. 14%), due to the lower availability of IT. Local IT adop-tion mitigates the labor market consequences of the pandemic for all individuals, regardless of gender and race, except those with the lowest level of educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Nicola Pierri & Mr. Yannick Timmer, 2020. "IT Shields: Technology Adoption and Economic Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IMF Working Papers 2020/208, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2020/208
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    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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