COVID-19 social distancing measures and economic growth: Distinguishing short- and long-term effects

Social distancing policies have been criticized for their adverse effect on economies. However, we evidence that while they have a short-run adverse effect, they also have a long-run recovery effect on economic growth. Utilizing quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate data from OECD member states, we find that the medium-term recovery effect of stringent social distancing policies on economic growth is three times higher the short-term adverse effect. We additionally investigate social distancing measures with sub-components of GDP, as well as the conditioning roles of institutional factors.

Automated summary

Social distancing policies have both short-term adverse effects and long-term recovery effects on economic growth, with the recovery effect being three times higher.