Falling Living Standards during the COVID-19 Crisis: Quantitative Evidence from Nine Developing Countries
Evidence from over 30,000 respondents in 16 original household surveys from 9 countries
Abstract
Despite numerous journalistic accounts, systematic quantitative evidence on economic conditions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic remains scarce for most low- and middle-income countries, partly due to limitations of official economic statistics in environments with large informal sectors and subsistence agriculture. We assemble evidence from over 30,000 respondents in 16 original household surveys from 9 countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone), Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines), and Latin America (Colombia). We document declines in employment and income in all settings beginning March 2020. The share of households experiencing an income drop ranges from 8 to 87% (median, 68%). Household coping strategies and government assistance were insufficient to sustain precrisis living standards, resulting in widespread food insecurity and dire economic conditions even 3 months into the crisis. We discuss promising policy responses and speculate about the risk of persistent adverse effects, especially among children and other vulnerable groups.
This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme.
Citation
Egger, D et al Falling Living Standards during the COVID-19 Crisis: Quantitative Evidence from Nine Developing Countries Science Advances 05 Feb 2021: Vol. 7, no. 6, eabe0997 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0997”