Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/223839 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 13397
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We measure the effect of lockdown policies on employment and GDP across countries using individual- and sector-level data. Employment effects depend on the ability to work from home, which ranges from about half of total employment in rich countries to around 35% in poor countries. This gap reflects differences in occupational composition, self-employment levels, and individual characteristics across countries. GDP effects of lockdown policies also depend on countries' sectoral structure. Losses in poor countries are attenuated by their higher value-added share in essential sectors, notably agriculture. Overall, a realistic lockdown policy implies GDP losses of 20-25% on an annualized basis.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
work from home
structural change
JEL: 
O11
O14
J21
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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