Short‐term impact of COVID‐19 on consumption spending and its underlying mechanisms: Evidence from Singapore

ABSTRACT: Abstract We examine the short‐term impact of COVID‐19 on consumption spending and its underlying mechanisms using individual‐level monthly panel data from Singapore. Although Singapore's case fatality rate was one of the lowest in the world in the early stage of the pandemic (0.05%), we find that the COVID‐19 pandemic reduced household consumption spending by almost one quarter at its peak, with a larger response from households with above‐median wealth. We show that the reduction in consumption spending is associated with the nationwide lockdown policy, heightened economic uncertainty and reduced income. In addition, we find a substantial increase in monthly savings among households without income losses, suggesting a substantial rebound in consumption spending after the lifting of the lo

SUBMITTER: Kim S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9011490 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature