Distant and different? Lockdown and inequalities in Italy

Journal title ECONOMIA PUBBLICA
Author/s Paolo Brunori, Marisa Luisa Maitino, Letizia Ravagli, Nicola Sciclone
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/2
Language English Pages 16 P. 39-54 File size 410 KB
DOI 10.3280/EP2021-002002
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We simulate the short-term effect of two months of lockdown on the Italian income distribution. With a static microsimulation model we show how poverty and inequality were effected by restrictions imposed during Coronavirus outbreak in March and April. We estimate a not negligible increase both in poverty and inequality, effects to a large extent mitigated by stimulus measures implemented by the government. However, we show that adopting alternative social protection approaches would have guaranteed a more universal coverage in particular for households more vulnerable to economic shocks.

Keywords: lockdown, inequality, poverty, social protection

Jel codes: D63, H53

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Paolo Brunori, Marisa Luisa Maitino, Letizia Ravagli, Nicola Sciclone, Distant and different? Lockdown and inequalities in Italy in "ECONOMIA PUBBLICA " 2/2021, pp 39-54, DOI: 10.3280/EP2021-002002