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The COVID-19 crisis: what explains cross-country differences in the pandemic’s short-term economic impact?

Author

Listed:
  • Niermann, Lennart
  • Pitterle, Ingo A.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the most universal health and socio-economic crisis in recent history. However, the magnitude of the economic damage has differed widely; some countries were hit particularly hard, while others have managed to weather the storm much better. In this paper, we employ a cross-country analysis to identify factors that help explain the differences in the growth impact of the COVID-19 shock. Our findings underscore the critical role of balancing health and economic concerns in managing the pandemic as both a country’s exposure to the coronavirus and the stringency of containment measures are strongly correlated with its growth performance. In addition, our results shed light on several aspects of economic resilience. Good governance, provision of fiscal support and strong macroeconomic fundamentals all helped cushion the economic impact. By contrast, a lack of economic diversification – reflected in overreliance on the tourism sector or oil production – has significantly amplified the shock.

Suggested Citation

  • Niermann, Lennart & Pitterle, Ingo A., 2021. "The COVID-19 crisis: what explains cross-country differences in the pandemic’s short-term economic impact?," MPRA Paper 107414, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:107414
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Berkmen, S. Pelin & Gelos, Gaston & Rennhack, Robert & Walsh, James P., 2012. "The global financial crisis: Explaining cross-country differences in the output impact," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 42-59.
    2. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2010. "The worldwide governance indicators : methodology and analytical issues," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5430, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mirko Licchetta & Giovanni Mattozzi & Rafal Raciborski & Rupert Willis, 2022. "Economic Adjustment in the Euro Area and the United States during the COVID-19 Crisis," European Economy - Discussion Papers 160, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    2. Mirko Licchetta & Eric Meyermans, 2022. "Gross Fixed Capital Formation in the Euro Area During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 57(4), pages 238-246, July.
    3. Malgorzata OLSZAK & Christophe J. GODLEWSKI & Gracjan BACHUREWICZ, 2024. "Determinants of bank income smoothing: Cross-country evidence from EEA banks during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis," Working Papers of LaRGE Research Center 2024-03, Laboratoire de Recherche en Gestion et Economie (LaRGE), Université de Strasbourg.
    4. Torres-Favela, Manuel & Luna, Edgar M., 2025. "The role of informality in the economic growth, employment, and inflation during the COVID-19 crisis," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 6(1).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • E66 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General Outlook and Conditions
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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