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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Economics and Epidemics: Evidence from an Estimated Spatial Econ-SIR Model

Author(s): Mark Bognanni, Douglas Hanley, Daniel Kolliner and Kurt Mitman

Publication Date: September 2020

Keyword(s): COVID19, Econ-SIR, Economic Policy and Epidemics

Programme Area(s): Monetary Economics and Fluctuations

Abstract: Economic analysis of effective policies for managing epidemics requires an integrated economic and epidemiological approach. We develop and estimate a spatial, micro-founded model of the joint evolution of economic variables and the spread of an epidemic. We empirically discipline the model using new U.S. county-level data on health, mobility, employment outcomes, and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) at a daily frequency. Absent policy or medical interventions, the model predicts an initial period of exponential growth in new cases, followed by a protracted period of roughly constant case levels and reduced economic activity. Nevertheless, if vaccine development proved impossible, and suppression cannot entirely eradicate the disease, a utilitarian policymaker cannot improve significantly over the laissez-faire equilibrium by using lockdowns. Conversely, if a vaccine will arrive within two years, NPIs can improve upon the laissez-faire outcome by dramatically decreasing the number of infectious agents and keeping infections low until vaccine arrival. Mitigation measures that reduce viral transmission (e.g., mask-wearing) both reduce the virus's spread and increase economic activity.

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Bibliographic Reference

Bognanni, M, Hanley, D, Kolliner, D and Mitman, K. 2020. 'Economics and Epidemics: Evidence from an Estimated Spatial Econ-SIR Model'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=15310