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Consumption Heterogeneity by Occupation: Understanding the Impact of Occupation on Personal Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Listed:
  • Christopher D. Cotton
  • Vaishali Garga
  • Justin Rohan

Abstract

This paper exploits the variation in the unemployment rate of different occupations in the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze the response of consumption spending to unemployment risk. We find that earlier in the pandemic, higher unemployment risk did not reduce relative spending. However, as the pandemic proceeded, higher unemployment risk reduced relative spending. This pattern held across both essential and nonessential spending categories. We find that “high-risk” occupations had three common characteristics: lower ability to be performed from home, higher physical proximity on the job, and a nonessential nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher D. Cotton & Vaishali Garga & Justin Rohan, 2020. "Consumption Heterogeneity by Occupation: Understanding the Impact of Occupation on Personal Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Working Papers 20-16, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbwp:89289
    DOI: 10.29412/bosfrb.wp.2020.16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumption; occupation; unemployment risk; COVID-19; CARES act;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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