ifo Schnelldienst 03/2021: The Post-Covid-19 Economy

The Post-Covid-19 Economy: What Unexpected Traces Does the Crisis Leave Behind in Industries, Regions, and Structures?

The coronavirus crisis and the ongoing lockdown are likely to permanently change the structure of the German economy, at least in some areas. The organization of work has shifted in the direction of working from home; online retail is showing high growth rates, while stationary specialist retail is suffering heavy losses. The lockdown has also seen massive declines in customer-facing services such as catering, tourism, and the cultural and leisure sectors. The longer the lockdown and the disruptions continue, the more likely it is that there will be lasting structural damage to the economy. What are the consequences for the labor market? Will regional disparities in Germany increase?

With contributions from:

• Klaus-Heiner Röhl, Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Structural Change – Between Zombie Companies, Investment Gaps, and the Digitalization Push
• Joachim Ragnitz, Long-Term Regional Economic Effects of the Coronavirus Crisis
• Ulrich Walwei, Effects of the Coronavirus Crisis on the Labor Market: Can Short-Time Work Save Jobs in the Long Run?
• Timo Wollmershäuser, Government Measures Slow Coronavirus Insolvency Wave
• Justus Haucap, The Post-Covid-19 Economy: Consequences of the Coronavirus Crisis for Trade, Services, and Government Entrepreneurship
• Jarko Fidrmuc, Florian Horky, Philipp Reichle, and Fabian Reck, Sharing Economy and the Pandemic Crisis
• Birgit Felden, Traces of the Coronavirus Crisis in the SME Sector