Extraordinary COVID-19 social support programs in South Africa yield economic benefits during the pandemic period

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BY SHERWIN GABRIEL, DIRK VAN SEVENTER, CHANNING ARNDT, ROBERT J. DAVIES, LAURENCE HARRIS, SHERMAN ROBINSON AND JENNA WILF

While we have learned a lot about the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and policy responses to it, many countries continue to face difficult decisions as they confront new waves of infections and medium term impacts. In this post, Sherwin Gabriel and colleagues present results from modeling the economic effects of short-term social protection measures, especially targeted at lower income households, in the face of new waves of infection and pressure on public expenditures. Results suggest that in addition to the benefits of direct aid, forms of emergency social support have positive macroeconomic impacts.—Johan Swinnen, series co-editor and IFPRI Director General.

Photo credit: Chadolfski/Shutterstock.com

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