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The Day After Covid-19: Implications for Growth, Specialization, and Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Stefano Magrini

    (Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

  • Alessandro Spiganti

    (Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

Abstract

In the post-pandemic world, digital communication will be integral part of daily working to a higher extent than before, with a disproportionally strong impact on knowledge-based activities, like innovation and research. We present a multi-area endogenous growth model where abstract knowledge flows at no cost across space but tacit knowledge arises from the interaction between researchers and hence is hampered by distance. Digital communication reduces this "cost of distance" for flows of tacit knowledge and reinforces productive specialization. This increases the system-wide growth rate, but at the cost of an increase in inequality within and across areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Magrini & Alessandro Spiganti, 2021. "The Day After Covid-19: Implications for Growth, Specialization, and Inequality," Working Papers 2021:13, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    • Handle: RePEc:ven:wpaper:2021:13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agglomeration; videoconferencing; innovation; disparities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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