Policies to Support Businesses through the COVID-19 Shock: A Firm-Level Perspective

Xavier Cirera, Marcio Cruz, Elwyn Adriaan Robin Davies, Arti Goswami Grover, Leonardo Iacovone, Jose Ernesto Lopez Cordova, Denis Medvedev, Franklin Maduko (maduko_franklin@phd.ceu.edu), Gaurav Nayyar, Santiago Reyes Ortega and Jesica Torres (jesicatorrescoronado@gmail.com)
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: José Ernesto López-Córdova (jelopezcordova@gmail.com)

No 9506, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Relying on a novel dataset covering more than 120,000 firms in 60 countries, this paper con-tributes to the debate about D policies to support businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. While governments around the world have implemented a wide range of policy support measures, evidence on the reach of these policies, the alignment of measures with firm needs, and their targeting and effectiveness remains scarce. This paper provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of these issues, focusing primarily on the developing economies. It shows that policy reach has been limited, especially for the more vulnerable firms and countries, and identifies mismatches between policies provided and policies most sought. It also provides some indicative evidence regarding mistargeting of policies and their effectiveness in addressing liquidity constraints and preventing layoffs. This assessment provides some early guidance to policymakers on tailoring their COVID-19 business support packages and points to new directions in data and research efforts needed to guide policy responses to the current pandemic and future crises.

Keywords: Labor Policies; Labor Markets; Rural Labor Markets; Disability; Access of Poor to Social Services; Economic Assistance; Services&Transfers to Poor; Social Development&Poverty; Bankruptcy and Resolution of Financial Distress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-01-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-sbm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Journal Article: Policies to Support Businesses through the COVID-19 Shock: A Firm Level Perspective (2021)
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