Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Economics

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

COVID-19

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Optimal Interventions In Networks During A Pandemic, Roland Pongou, Guy Tchuente, Jean-Baptiste Tondji Apr 2023

Optimal Interventions In Networks During A Pandemic, Roland Pongou, Guy Tchuente, Jean-Baptiste Tondji

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

We develop a model of optimal lockdown policy for a social planner who balances population health with short-term wealth accumulation. The unique solution depends on tolerable infection incidence and social network structure. We then use unique data on nursing home networks in the US to calibrate the model and quantify state-level preference for prioritizing health over wealth. We also empirically validate simulation results derived from comparative statics analyses. Our findings suggest that policies that tolerate more virus spread (laissez-faire) increase state GDP growth and COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. The detrimental effects of laissez-faire policies are more potent for nursing …


The Impacts Of Ownership And Covid-19 On Firm Performance-Three Essays, Jian Xu Jul 2022

The Impacts Of Ownership And Covid-19 On Firm Performance-Three Essays, Jian Xu

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three essays on finance of ownership and COVID-19. In the first essay, we investigate the effect of residual state ownership, foreign ownership, and the interaction between the two on firms' financing patterns. we find that neither firms with residual state ownership only nor firms with foreign ownership only are positively related with external finance. In comparison, firms with both state and foreign ownerships are associated with higher external finance. The increased external finance for firms with both state and foreign ownerships mainly comes from private banks and new equity. Moreover, we explore the channels through which …


Laissez-Faire, Social Networks, And Race In A Pandemic, Roland Pongou, Guy Tchuente, Jean-Baptiste Tondji May 2022

Laissez-Faire, Social Networks, And Race In A Pandemic, Roland Pongou, Guy Tchuente, Jean-Baptiste Tondji

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study the effects of race, network centrality, and policies that tolerate some level of virus spread (laissez-faire) on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes in the United States. Our analysis uses unique data on nursing home networks and calibration-based estimates of states' preferences for health relative to short-term economic gains. Our findings suggest that laissez-faire policies increase deaths. Nursing homes with a larger share of Black residents experience more deaths, but they are less vulnerable to laissez-faire policies, especially when not central in social networks. Our findings highlight significant interactions between COVID-19 policies, race, and network structure among US seniors.


Covid-19 And Women-Led Businesses Around The World, Yu Liu, Siqi Wei, Jian Xu Nov 2021

Covid-19 And Women-Led Businesses Around The World, Yu Liu, Siqi Wei, Jian Xu

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Using a brand-new dataset covering 24 countries, we document that women-led businesses are subject to a higher likelihood of closure and a longer closure duration than men-led businesses during the pandemic. Women business leaders are also more pessimistic about the future than men business leaders. The disadvantages suffered by women-led businesses widen in high gender inequality economies and developing economies. Our results further indicate that finance and labor factors are likely to be the major contributors to these disadvantages. We suggest that COVID-19′s policy response should …


Organizational Resources, Country Institutions, And National Culture Behind Firm Survival And Growth During Covid-19, Yu Liu, Mike W. Peng, Zuobao Wei, Jian Xu, Lixin Colin Xu Apr 2021

Organizational Resources, Country Institutions, And National Culture Behind Firm Survival And Growth During Covid-19, Yu Liu, Mike W. Peng, Zuobao Wei, Jian Xu, Lixin Colin Xu

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper provides one of the first comprehensive and most updated studies on the effects of firms’ organizational resources, country institutions, and national culture on the survival and growth of private firms around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing World Bank Enterprise Follow-up Surveys on COVID-19 that cover 18,770 firms in 36 countries, the paper documents four sets of findings. (1) During the pandemic, firms with favorable organizational resources (state ownership and affiliation with parent companies) are more likely to survive and grow, whereas firms with foreign ownership or more financial obstacles are less likely to survive or grow. …