Productivity growth over the business cycle: cleansing effects of recessions

This paper investigates the impact of recent recessions on the origins of productivity growth. We show how business cycles affect productivity growth, with particular attention for the impact of job reallocation and labor hoarding. We find evidence that recessions induce productivity enhancing job reallocation in manufacturing but not in services industries and show that labor hoarding mitigates this cleansing effect of recessions. Furthermore, we show how entry and exit of firms and industry dynamics shape the evolution of aggregate productivity.Plain English SummaryDuring recessions, governments support firms via temporary unemployment programs to save jobs. A side effect is that job reallocation and exit of low-productive firms can be distorted, while such cleansing effects typically spur productivity growth. This paper investigates how recessions affect productivity growth, with particular attention for the impact of job reallocation and labor hoarding. We find evidence that recessions induce productivity enhancing job reallocation in manufacturing but not in services industries and show that labor hoarding mitigates this cleansing effect of recessions. Furthermore, we show how entry and exit of firms and industry dynamics shape the evolution of aggregate productivity. As many developed economies struggle with a slowdown in productivity growth, it is important that policy makers understand the impact of recessions on the micro origins of productivity growth and are aware of how temporary policies during recessions could affect long-term productivity growth.

The effect of COVID-19 on Indian stock market volatility: can economic package control the uncertainty?

Purpose The stock market has shown fluctuating degrees of volatility because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic in India. The present research aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 on the stock market volatility, and whether the economic package can control the market volatility or not, measured by a set of certain sector-level economic features and factors such as resilience variables. Design/methodology/approach We examine the correlation matrix, basic volatility model and robustness tests to determine the sector-level economic features and macroeconomic factors helpful in diminishing the volatility rising because of the COVID-19. Findings The outcomes of this study are significant as policymakers and financial analysts can apply these economic factors to set policy replies to handle the unexpected fluctuation in the stock market in sequence to circumvent any thinkable future financial crisis. Originality/value The originality of the paper is to measure the variables affecting the stock market volatility due to COVID-19, and understand the impact of capital market macroeconomic variables and dummy variables to theoretically explain the COVID-19 impact on stock market volatility.