Irfan Ahmed, Claudio Socci, Stefano Deriu, Silvia D'Andrea and Naif M. Mathkur
The recent COVID-19 is forcing governments to implement policies on a large scale to counter its spread. A central issue in the economic debate is the effective quantification of…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent COVID-19 is forcing governments to implement policies on a large scale to counter its spread. A central issue in the economic debate is the effective quantification of the impact that the policies may implicitly have on the economy. This study quantifies the effects of lockdown in the United States.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a dynamic computable general equilibrium (DCGE) model calibrated on a social accounting matrix (SAM). The lockdown policy is applied on the supply side, by using a reduction in the production according to the closing time of each industry. The reduction in the demand is also applied, throughout the contraction of the household consumption that is diversified by the commodities. In order to analyse the pure effect of the lockdown policy, the interventions by the policy makers are not considered in this study.
Findings
The results show an important contraction of productivity in the food industry, the real estate activities, the constructions and the general services.
Originality/value
The contraction produces a fall of the GDP for the whole period analysed, traced by the investments, which includes repercussions on the whole productive system, employment and income of the institutional sectors.
Details
Keywords
Irfan Ahmed, Ali Mohammad Medabesh, Khadija H. Mehrez, Nedra Shili, Claudio Socci and Stefano Deriu
With the global outbreak of COVID-19 that has made the economic activities standstill, countries have taken immediate measures to safeguard not only the human lives but also the…
Abstract
Purpose
With the global outbreak of COVID-19 that has made the economic activities standstill, countries have taken immediate measures to safeguard not only the human lives but also the economies. This study investigates empirically the lockdown impact of current pandemic on the Saudi economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs inoperability input–output model (IIOM) on the input–output table (IOT) of Saudi Arabia for the analysis.
Findings
Findings show that with the closure of few sectors for the period of two months, the GDP declined to 6.49%. Findings also show a negative impact on consumption, investments and exports.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation of current study is that it uses IOTs which lack primary and secondary income distribution that is vital for presenting complete interindustry connections in the analysis. The interindustry structures relate to the consumption structures which ultimately lead to the income distribution and affect the consumption behaviors of economic agents. Hence, the complete income circular flow is not incorporated in IIOM using IOT. The findings of current study would be well grounded if it endogenized the primary and secondary income distribution.
Practical implications
The practical implication of this study is the use of IIOM for anticipating the potential loss against the backdrop of catastrophes and pandemics. The IIOM has the capability to predict the economic effects of disruptive events and hence the policy-makers can better predict and devise prudent policies to avoid the likely threats to the economy.
Originality/value
The current situation is unprecedented, and it is challenging for governments to forecast the economic repercussions. Several economic sectors have been inoperative due to lockdown implemented by the governments. This study empirically estimated the inoperability produced by the current pandemic. The findings are consistent with other estimated statistics, thereby proving the efficacy of IIOM to anticipate the economic repercussions of natural hazards.
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Keywords
Claudio Socci, Irfan Ahmed, Mohammed Hussein Alfify, Stefano Deriu, Clio Ciaschini and Riyaz Abdullah Sheikh
The recent COVID-19 has obliged governments to enact large-scale policies to contain it. A topic of economic debate is the quantification of the impact that these policies can…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent COVID-19 has obliged governments to enact large-scale policies to contain it. A topic of economic debate is the quantification of the impact that these policies can create in the economy, with the aim of activating regulatory mechanisms to minimize this impact. In this vein, this study aims to propose a quantification of the effects of the Italian government policy that blocks nonessential production activities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a multisectoral extended inoperability model on the social accounting matrix of Italy. The analysis identifies the pandemic’s impact on outputs, endogenous demands, value-added and disposable incomes of institutional sectors.
Findings
The construction and real estate sectors revealed a significant contraction followed by the retail trade and hotel and catering services sectors. The output contraction further impacts the value-added generation, disposable income and final demand components.
Originality/value
The current pandemic is alleged to have a greater impact than the epidemics of the past century, considering the present dimension of the world economy and the increasing interconnections between industries and institutions. In this scenario, it is challenging to safeguard not only human health and life but also the economy. Hence, there is a need to establish a trade-off between health and economics; and in this regard, the current study empirically quantifies the impact of health measures on the economy. The findings of this study help identify the sectors that are more prone to disaster effects and also present the structure of income circular flow in the Italian economy.
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Marco Gola, Gaetano Settimo and Stefano Capolongo
Several countries have carried out air quality monitoring in professional workplaces where chemicals are used. Health-care spaces have been less investigated. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Several countries have carried out air quality monitoring in professional workplaces where chemicals are used. Health-care spaces have been less investigated. This paper aims to define a protocol, as developed by a research group, for inpatient rooms to understand the state of the art and to suggest design and management strategies for improving process quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Starting from the ISO-16000 standard and guidelines for monitoring activities, a protocol is defined for a one year investigation, with passive samplers. Through data analysis of the investigations and analysis of the cleaning and finishing products, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and maintenance activities, etc., it is possible to highlight the potential influences of chemical pollution.
Findings
A methodology is defined for understanding the chemical pollution and the possible factors related to construction materials, cleaning products and maintenance activities.
Research limitations/implications
The paper analyzes only a limited number of case studies because the monitoring activity is still in progress.
Practical implications
The investigation offers a starting point for a wide tool for the definition of design, maintenance and management strategies in health-care facilities.
Social implications
The research project, aimed at improving the knowledge of indoor air quality (IAQ) in inpatient rooms, is a starting point for a supporting tool for future regulations concerning health-care facilities.
Originality/value
IAQ is an issue on which many governments are focusing. Several health-care researchers have reported studies that aim at improving users’ health. Most investigations are about biological and physical risks, but chemical risks have been less studied. The paper suggests some design and management strategies for inpatient room.