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Digitalization and Resilience

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Copestake
  • Julia Estefania-Flores
  • Davide Furceri

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of digitialization in improving economic resilience. Using balance sheet data from 24,000 firms in 75 countries, and a difference-in-differences approach, we find that firms in industries that are more digitalized experience lower revenue losses following recessions. Early data since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic suggest an even larger effect during the resulting recessions. These results are robust across a wide range of digitalization measures—such as ICT input and employment shares, robot usage, online sales, intangible assets and digital skills listed on online profiles—and several alternative specifications.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Copestake & Julia Estefania-Flores & Davide Furceri, 2022. "Digitalization and Resilience," IMF Working Papers 2022/210, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2022/210
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    Keywords

    Resilience; Digitalization; Recessions; Firms; Local Projection; digitalization measure; macroeconomic data; balance sheet data; outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic; revenue loss; employment share; Economic recession; COVID-19; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • G39 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Other
    • 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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