Theoretical and empirical studies on containment and economic policies under COVID-19 recession

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K13400
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2024); Waseda University (2022-2023)
• Principal Investigator: Kubota So 東北大学, 経済学研究科, 准教授 (00814352)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 新型コロナ / 疫学マクロモデル / オルタナティブデータ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study primarily focused on infection control and economic policies in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on the economic research conducted at the time, examining their implications for the future. Ultimately, a comparative analysis paper was written on three East Asian countries: China, Taiwan, and Japan. As the country where the pandemic originated, China implemented extremely strict quarantine measures, which led to significant economic losses. In contrast, Taiwan was relatively successful in its border control and quarantine policies, thereby minimizing economic damage. Both countries saw rapid advancements in digitalization, whereas Japan, which experienced a relatively mild spread of infection, did not undergo such progress.

Free Research Field

マクロ経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、コロナ禍でリアルタイムに行われた経済学研究とそれが政策に果たした役割について検証を行い、その経験が将来のパンデミックやその他の社会経済危機においてどのように活かされるか、研究者の役割とは何かを論じた。特筆すべきは、民間企業のオルタナティブデータ利用が広まって即時的な状況把握が可能になったこと、またシミュレーションモデルを日々改訂しながら予測を改善させていくような研究が始まったことである。将来にも、通常とは異なる目の前に危機に対応するための研究というスキームが活かされるだろう。