Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on unemployment in selected countries and country groups

The economic crisis caused by Covid-19 differs from previous economic crises in several ways. It is a global event that developed unexpectedly and hit the world unprepared, primarily attacking human resources, requiring strong governmental measures. The involvement of the human sphere directly affected people's income and lives through labour market effects. Based on literature and statistical data, this study analyses the evolution of the unemployment data of 11 countries (Australia, Chile, the UK, Israel, Japan, China, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the US) and two country groups (EU-27 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - OECD) during the economic crisis. Based on the results, the authors identified three distinct groups of countries with 1. moderate growth, slow consolidation;2. robustious upturn, fast then slow correction, and 3. individual patterns. The study demonstrated how government measures took effect differently from the unemployment perspective. The authors referred to the influence of the inhabitants' collective way of thinking and considered it essential to emphasise the positive impact of vaccines.

Corporate social responsibility and customer's responses: CSR authenticity and government intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 had unparalleled social and economic impacts in many countries, including Indonesia. Companies are urged to develop corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this challenging environment to support society. As CSR enters a more developed stage, the government's role in initiating and promoting it has also been recognized. First, this study explores the company's motives for engaging in CSR, as well as the role of government by interviewing three CSR officials. Further, this study investigates the effects of CSR motives, CSR authenticity, and corporate brand image on community well-being and customer citizenship behavior, with government intervention as a moderating variable, by an online survey to analyze nine hypotheses. Using purposive sampling, 652 respondents from five local companies in Indonesia participated in the survey, and the data were analyzed using SmartPLS. The interviews showed two CSR motives and the role of government, and the survey showed mixed results on the impact of CSR motives on CSR authenticity and corporate brand image, the positive impacts of CSR authenticity and corporate brand image on community well-being, and customer citizenship behavior. Although high levels of government intervention are noticeable, this variable was not found to be a significant moderator. This study highlights the importance of how customers perceive CSR motives and authenticity, so companies should consider it when developing CSR activities. Engaging in CSR initiatives during a crisis may improve a company's brand image and customer citizenship behavior. However, companies should appropriately manage their CSR communications to avoid customers' suspicion about the CSR motives.

Did COVID-19 affect rural households' subjective well-being? A social survey from rural China.

Improving rural households' subjective well-being is an important element of economic and social revitalization in the post-epidemic period. Based on the survey data obtained from rural households in Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak in China, and its surrounding areas, this paper explores the impact mechanisms of the COVID-19 epidemic on subjective well-being from both economic and sociological perspectives with the help of structural equation modeling. The results show that COVID-19 significantly influenced rural households' subjective well-being in China. Furthermore, COVID-19 indirectly affected their subjective well-being by influencing optimism. The negative impact is moderated by government intervention and income resilience. Therefore, strengthening the emergency management capacity of local governments and encouraging the diversification of rural households' income sources are important strategies to effectively resolve epidemic shocks and improve the level of well-being.

Is the government's direct subsidy to COVID-19 effective?

With the outbreak of COVID-19, governments worldwide have provided direct subsidies to enterprises. This paper aims to identify the motivation behind these subsidies and evaluate their impact. Previous studies have overlooked the discussion of subsidy motivation, and there is still a wide divergence of views among scholars on whether subsidies have a positive effect on firm performance. To test the hypothesis, a fixed effect model is adopted. The study examines 228 Chinese A-share listed companies and confirms that subsidies are primarily attributable to the severity of the pandemic. Moreover, subsidies have a significant positive effect on social performance, particularly for small-scale enterprises. Contrary to the belief that subsidies have a positive effect on firm performance, this study disproves this viewpoint. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for subsidy policy-making during pandemics and outline the boundaries of government intervention in society and the economy.

National team intervention and price efficiency differentiation under the impact of COVID-19

This paper examines how the ‘national team', a direct government investment policy, influences the price efficiency of listed companies in the Shanghai Stock Index (SSE). We find that stocks directly invested in by the national team show greater price efficiency than stocks without direct bailout. We also analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this price efficiency differentiation. The data period is divided into two sub-periods, and the results show that the price efficiency of stocks decreased after COVID-19. The reduction in price efficiency is more notable for stocks with direct government investment;the difference observed under national team investment in price efficiency is clearly reduced. Increased pessimistic investor expectations due to the pandemic could explain these changes. Our study provides novel evidence for the policy evaluation of national team intervention and a more detailed explanation about the decrease in financial market efficiency in the post-COVID-19 era. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Economic impact of government intervention in response to covid-19 in selected sub-Saharan African countries

This article provides insights into the economic impact of government actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in selected Sub-Saharan Africa countries, purposively selected. A fixed-effect modelling approach was utilised drawing on Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) database from January 21 to September 17, 2020, in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda. Key findings entail those announcements of government lockdowns were positively related to COVID-19 cases and negatively related to restrictions on internal movement and interest rate decisions from the central banks. Governments' announcements regarding income support packages and debt relief were related to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. With most global economies grappling with a second wave, and the consequences of the first surge in both social well-being and economic growth, income and debt relief strategies should be continued to benefit households and companies. In addition, countries in the Africa-Sub Saharan region must create a relief fund to support members in distress. Finally, a sustainable regional model on business and tourism must be created to foster development and growth during periods of partial or total lockdown. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Development Southern Africa is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The city-wide full-scale interactive application of sewage surveillance programme for assisting real-time COVID-19 pandemic control - A case study in Hong Kong.

The paper discusses the implementation of Hong Kong's tailor-made sewage surveillance programme led by the Government, which has demonstrated how an efficient and well-organized sewage surveillance system can complement conventional epidemiological surveillance to facilitate the planning of intervention strategies and actions for combating COVID-19 pandemic in real-time. This included the setting up of a comprehensive sewerage network-based SARS-CoV-2 virus surveillance programme with 154 stationary sites covering 6 million people (or 80 % of the total population), and employing an intensive monitoring programme to take samples from each stationary site every 2 days. From 1 January to 22 May 2022, the daily confirmed case count started with 17 cases per day on 1 January to a maximum of 76,991 cases on 3 March and dropped to 237 cases on 22 May. During this period, a total of 270 "Restriction-Testing Declaration" (RTD) operations at high-risk residential areas were conducted based on the sewage virus testing results, where over 26,500 confirmed cases were detected with a majority being asymptomatic. In addition, Compulsory Testing Notices (CTN) were issued to residents, and the distribution of Rapid Antigen Test kits was adopted as alternatives to RTD operations in areas of moderate risk. These measures formulated a tiered and cost-effective approach to combat the disease in the local setting. Some ongoing and future enhancement efforts to improve efficacy are discussed from the perspective of wastewater-based epidemiology. Forecast models on case counts based on sewage virus testing results were also developed with R2 of 0.9669-0.9775, which estimated that up to 22 May 2022, around 2,000,000 people (~67 % higher than the total number of 1,200,000 reported to the health authority, due to various constraints or limitations) had potentially contracted the disease, which is believed to be reflecting the real situation occurring in a highly urbanized metropolis like Hong Kong.

Six Feet Apart: Online Payments during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have faced unprecedented challenges when trying to remain open. Because COVID-19 spreads through aerosolized droplets, businesses were forced to distance their services;in some cases, distancing may have involved moving business services online. In this work, we explore digitization strategies used by small businesses that remained open during the pandemic, and survey/interview small businesses owners to understand preliminary challenges associated with moving online. Furthermore, we analyze payments from 400K businesses across Japan, Australia, United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Following initial government interventions, we observe (at minimum for each country) a 47% increase in digitizing businesses compared to pre-pandemic levels, with about 80% of surveyed businesses digitizing in under a week. From both our quantitative models and our surveys/interviews, we find that businesses rapidly digitized at the start of the pandemic in preparation of future uncertainty. We also conduct a case-study of initial digitization in the United States, examining finer relationships between specific government interventions, business sectors, political orientation, and resulting digitization shifts. Finally, we discuss the implications of rapid & widespread digitization for small businesses in the context of usability challenges and interpersonal interactions, while highlighting potential shifts in pre-existing social norms. © 2022 Owner/Author.

An Assessment of Coping Mechanism for Reducing Unemployment Syndrome among Graduates in Nigeria

This study was conducted to access the impact of coping mechanism on unemployment syndrome reduction among the graduate youths in Osun state, Nigeria. Survey method was used in this study and purposive sampling technique was adopted to collect data through administration of questionnaire. Two set of groups were involved. Four hundred and seven copies of questionnaire were administered on graduate benefiaries of N power in Osun State and 60 copies of questionnaire were also administered on the supervisors in each of the 30 local government areas of Osun State. (2 per local government). Linear Regression analysis was used to achieve the formulated hypotheses and objectives. The findings showed that Hypothesis 1 R2= 0.620, sig= 0.000, p < 0.05), for Hypothesis 2 (R2=0.455, sig =0.000, p < 0.05). The study established that individual commitment, self assiduous, focus and goal oriented are keen to self sustainability in this current situation in Nigeria today. The study concluded that individual determination (individual commitment, Focus, goal oriented and self assiduous) as coping mechanisms have significant impact on unemployment syndrome reduction among graduates in Osun State. Therefore, the study recommended that government should intervene and practically involve in the activities of the beneficiaries of any fund release to reduce unemployment in this era of ongoing COVID 19 pandemic in Nigeria to reduce economic wastage of fund.

Restructuring and Reshaping Africa Oil Exporting Countries Post COVID-19 - A Participatory Development Strategy Approach

Research Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has the capacity of severely disrupting economic activities and triggering economic crisis, especially in Africa's Oil Exporting Countries (AOECs). The African economy is likely to be the worst hit, especially the Africa Oil Exporting Countries (AOECs), as they have been majorly low income countries and considering the fall in oil prices, as oil revenue forms a major source of their revenue and government expenditure. Purpose: This study explored the stakeholders' opinions on reshaping and restructuring the economies of six African Oil Exporting Countries, with the aim of ascertaining the views of academics within the six AOECs, as regards the economic revival post COVID-19. Research methodology: The study utilized the Participatory Development Strategy Approach (PDSA), employing the Cronbach Alpha Reliability test, Estimated Response Rate (ERR) and Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) to extract opinions from 1,260 stakeholders within the six AOECs. Results: The results show that the stakeholders are of the opinion that the solutions to the rebuilding of AOECs are multi-faceted, suggesting a mixture of both government and private institutions in varying degrees. Some of the respondents favoured going back to agriculture and agribusiness to revamp their economies. Novelty: The study utilized an uncommon methodology;the Participatory Development Strategy Approach (PDSA) to achieve its objective. The PDSA is meant to allow the affected stakeholders' participation in the policy making process. The respondents were purely academics, as it is believed that academics are the sources of hope of solving myriads of human challenges such as hunger and economic crisis. © 2022 Osmond Chigozie Agu et al.

Socioeconomic and policy determinants of mobility during COVID-19: Evidence from Indonesian cities

Government interventions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 disease have decreased mobility, which, in turn, impacts aggregate economic activity. Understanding mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a proxy for understanding its economic impact. This study aims to examine the relationship between pre-existing socioeconomic factors and the economic impact of COVID-19 using aggregate mobility data, particularly from emerging economies with a dominance of informal workers within economic activities. This study will utilize the public mobility dataset to provide an exploratory picture of the socioeconomic and policy determinants of mobility during the pandemic, focusing on Indonesia. The exploratory analytical findings indicate that the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, as indicated by mobility data, is highly correlated with various prior socioeconomic determinants. Moreover, more prosperous and urbanized areas have a larger formal sector, employ more people in manufacturing and/or tourism, possess a more educated labor force, and are more digitally connected;they tend to experience more significant decreases in mobility. The study has provided lessons to developing countries with a vast informal sector size and the gap in access to digital technology to design a more effective, timely, and well-targeted policy response in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Dynamic Model for Analyzing the Public Health Policy of the Mexican Government During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been one of the most significant health problems in the world. Several academic studies focus on health consequences. However, only a few studies have paid attention to analyzing government strategies as general public guidelines. In this work, we use a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Deceased (SIRD) model to assess infection rate, mortality rate, and the effects of the Mexican government intervention during the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We carry out Bayesian inferences on the proposed model using a Robust Adaptive Metropolis (RAM) algorithm. Essentially, the proposed methodology allows appreciating the effects of quarantine on the three pandemic wave's mortality rate. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Government Interventions to Ameliorate Covid-19 Recession: The Case of Small, Micro, and Medium Firm's Survival in South Africa

This paper analyzes the impact of government economic interventions to ameliorate the COVID-19 pandemic on the survival of small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. We use the Cox Proportional Hazards approach and cross-sectional data from King Cetshwayo District Municipality covering 641 SMMEs. The study finds that tax relief was the most important intervention used to sustain SMMEs during the pandemic. Other interventions, such as cash grants and cheap credit, were also used during the period but had a small impact. Our findings support the interventions used by the South African government in mitigating the negative consequences of the pandemic-induced lockdown on small businesses. However, we also note that the magnitude at which the interventions were made could have been lower than what is optimal. The paper recommends the need to increase and have sustainable targeted expenditure during the difficult times to enhance the resilience of SMMEs to accelerate economic development and growth.

The Government's Overall Management Efficiency under the Covid-19: Active Intervention on Citizens' Panic and Negative Emotions

Background: At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 first broke out in China. Without any preparation in advance, the Chinese government unit with the people and enterprises, and finally ended the epidemic of Wuhan by means of thunder, and kept the epidemic level under control through subsequent normal prevention and control and dynamic clearing. From this incident, we can see that the government's overall management efficiency can have a significant impact on the national panic and negative emotions. Subjects and methods: In order to explore the impact and intervention effect of the government's overall management effect on citizens' panic psychology and negative emotions under the COVID-19, this study, after collecting and sorting out relevant literature, used the expert inquiry method to understand and study the subject, hoping to improve China's ability to deal with large-scale public emergencies. Result(s): The survey results show that the measures of local city closure, home isolation, mandatory wearing of masks in public places, regional comprehensive nuclei acid testing, and patient graded treatment management among the government's overall management methods have the most obvious effects on alleviating people's panic and negative emotions. Conclusion(s): The results of this study shows that the local city closure, home isolation and other measures in the government's overall management method have the most obvious effect on alleviating people's panic and negative emotions. Under the COVID-19, the government maintains a strong overall management ability, which plays a particularly significant role in controlling the impact on the incident on the people's psychology. Copyright © Medicinska naklada - Zagreb, Croatia.

The social function of intellectual property and government intervention in mitigating the pandemic: A perspective from Indonesia

Indonesia declared Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) a Public Health Emergency based on Presidential Decree No. 11 of 2020 considering the extensive victims and extraordinary impacts. This study analyzes how Indonesia addresses the social function of intellectual property and government intervention in mitigating the pandemic. This study shows that outside the patent waiver provisions, implementation is the key. Indonesian Government has set a strategic framework in accordance with the guidelines of the WHO by simultaneously takes two strategies of vaccine provision and procurement: First, purchasing vaccines from abroad and/or collaborating with national and/or international institutions, Second, the development of ‘Vaksin Merah Putih’ (Red and White Vaccine) independently in the country through a triple helgix synergy involving the government institutions/ministries, universities, and industries. The provision of COVID‐19 Vaccines in Indonesia is free as a form of responsibility and presence of the state. Government is also continuously expanding its public communication network to eliminate vaccine hesitancy. Lastly, Indonesia has adopted the TRIPs Waiver provisions through the Indonesian Patent Law, Government Regulation Number 77 of 2020 concerning Procedures for Patent Implementation by the Government, Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No. 14 of 2021 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No. 30 of 2019 concerning Procedures for Granting a Compulsory Patent License. These regulations will later become the basis for the government, whether it will eventually implement a patent license through a compulsory license system or a government use the patent system not only for the COVID‐19 vaccine but also other essential medicines in mitigating the pandemic.

The mechanism of governments' and individuals' influence on protective behaviours during the second wave of COVID-19: a multiple mediation model.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and resurge globally with signs of a second wave, despite actions by governments to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. However, evidence-based strategies to combat COVID-19 recurrence are poorly documented. Objective: To reveal how governments and individuals should act to effectively cope with future waves, this study proposed a preventive model of COVID-19 resurgence. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,137 residents of Beijing, where the epidemic reoccurred. Structural equation model was used to explore the mechanism among government intervention, perceived efficacy, positive emotions, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and protective behaviours. Results: Data analysis revealed that during COVID-19 resurgence, government intervention could directly and indirectly influence protective behaviours through individual factors (i.e. perceived efficacy, positive emotions), and PTG could mediate the indirect pathway to protective behaviours. Conclusions: These findings implied that government intervention needs to be integrated with individual factors to effectively control repeated COVID-19 outbreaks.

Antecedentes: El virus SARS-CoV-2 continúa propagándose y resurgiendo a nivel mundial con signos de una segunda ola, a pesar de las acciones de los gobiernos para frenar la pandemia de COVID-19. Sin embargo, las estrategias basadas en evidencia para combatir la recurrencia de COVID-19 están pobremente documentadas.Objetivo: Para revelar cómo deben actuar los gobiernos y las personas para hacer frente de manera efectiva a futuras olas, este estudio propuso un modelo preventivo del resurgimiento de COVID-19.Método: Se realizó una encuesta entre 1.137 residentes de Beijing, donde la epidemia volvió a ocurrir. Se utilizó un modelo de ecuación estructural para explorar el mecanismo entre la intervención del gobierno, la eficacia percibida, las emociones positivas, el crecimiento postraumático (CPT) y las conductas protectoras.Resultados: El análisis de datos reveló que durante el resurgimiento de COVID-19, la intervención del gobierno podría influir directa e indirectamente en los comportamientos de protección a través de factores individuales (es decir, eficacia percibida, emociones positivas), y CPT podría mediar en el camino indirecto hacia los comportamientos de protección.Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos implicaron que la intervención del gobierno debe integrarse con factores individuales para controlar de manera efectiva los brotes repetidos de COVID-19.

Digital Divide in Education during COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aims to examine the impact of digital divide on student outcomes using primary data. We used a sample of 233 secondary school students in the rural area of Sabah, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic from October to November 2020, about six months into student mandatory online learning. A random sampling method was employed in data collection using online questionnaire. This study adopted the two-step least squares method. We specifically measured students’outcomes based on their perspectives of online class effectiveness and student financial constraints to attend these classes. The findings proved the existence of digital divide among students in rural areas. Specifically, the students’ low level of online learning attendance produced positive and statistically significant effect on their perspective of the effectiveness of online learning. In addition, the availability of digital devices at home significantly influenced student decision to take part-time jobs in order to help them purchase these devices to enable them attend classes. The findings suggest that there exist digital access barriers among students in rural areas during the pandemic. The study implies that the government or policymakers need to effect strategic intervention such as digital endowment to ensure that the digitally disadvantaged students are not left behind their peers. © 2021 Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. All rights reserved.

Does government intervention affect CO2 emission reduction effect of producer service agglomeration? Empirical analysis based on spatial Durbin model and dynamic threshold model.

Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is an inherent requirement for countries to promote green recovery and transformation of the global economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. As "a smoke-free industry," producer services agglomeration (PSA) may have significant impacts on CO2 emission reduction. Therefore, based on the nightlight data to calculate the CO2 emissions of 268 cities in China from 2005 to 2017, this study deeply explores the impact and transmission mechanism of PSA on CO2 emissions by constructing dynamic spatial Durbin model and intermediary effect model. Furthermore, the dynamic threshold model is used to analyze the nonlinear characteristics between PSA and CO2 emissions under different degrees of government intervention. The results reveal that: (1) Generally, China's CO2 emissions are path-dependent in the time dimension, showing a "snowball effect." PSA significantly inhibits CO2 emissions, but heterogeneous influences exist in different regions, time nodes, and sub-industries; (2) PSA can indirectly curb CO2 emissions through economies of scale, technological innovation, and industrial structure upgrading. (3) The impact of PSA on China's CO2 emissions has an obvious double threshold effect under different degree of government intervention. Accordingly, the Chinese government should increase the support for producer services, dynamically adjust industrial policies, take a moderate intervention, and strengthen market-oriented reform to reduce CO2 emissions. This study opens up a new path for the low-carbon economic development and environmental sustainability, and also fills in the theoretical gaps on these issues. The findings and implications will offer instructive guideline for early achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Development of Inclusive Finance Amidst Pandemic in India: A Conceptual Framework

The study aims to develop a conceptual model for inclusive finance regarding any economic or health crisis through microfinance. The conceptual framework seeks to show how different factors help microfinance institutions navigate the COVID-19 health crisis and reach the ultimate aim of Inclusive Finance. The paper is theoretical and develops a conceptual framework for establishing Inclusive Finance (IF) and Microfinance Institutions access (MFIA) in emerging economies like India. The study provides the dimensions of the inclusion of the informal sector (IIS) as a mediator between the relationship of MFIA and IF. Further, the study designs the conceptual framework and suggests the importance of the Government Intervention (GI) as a moderator and includes the informal section (IIS) as the mediator between the MFIA and the IF. The framework also offers the factors affecting MFIA are Financial Literacy (FL), Flexible Repayment Model (FRM), Digital Financial Services (DFS), and Corporate Disclosure (CD) during COVID -19. The study will help the researchers, practitioners, and policymakers redesign the policies for specific vulnerable sectors like microfinance to absorb the shock-like health crisis- COVID -19 or any financial shock and reach their aim of inclusive finance. © 2022 IEEE.

Ten Questions for Governments-and Answers the Social Sciences Can Provide

The dramatic interventions to fight the coronavirus pandemic undertaken by many governments all around the globe are unique since the Second World War. They massively restrict economic, civil society, cultural, and personal freedoms. So far the population has been willing to cooperate. In view of the huge current and future costs, it is crucial that citizens remain confident that there are good reasons for the measures. This trust is endangered if the population is unable to understand crucial aspects, and therefore insecurity grows. The costs to be borne vary greatly: permanent employees or civil servants are far less affected than restaurant operators, hairdressers, self-employed cultural workers, and most shop owners. Their confidence is based essentially on how well the following questions are answered. What guidance can the social sciences offer? © 2020 by the authors.