How welfare and credit regimes shape economic policies during times of crisis: The case of Covid-19

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world in early 2020, it faced one of the most severe health and economic crises in decades. To address the consequences of the pandemic and manage the high uncertainty that accompanied it, governments drew from a repertoire of policy tools that included restrictive measures such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, public health programs, including testing and contact tracing, as well as economic support for households and businesses (Maggetti and Trein, 2022). A large portion of the active population was suddenly, and then repeatedly, put out of work. Governments’ responses to the economic hardship their citizens experienced differed widely, including direct cash transfers, income support programs, and debt relief measures.