Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia: A synthetic control approach

Amos Z.B. Flomo; Elissaios Papyrakis; Natascha Wagner

doi:10.1002/jid.3736

Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia: A synthetic control approach

Amos Z.B. Flomo^*
, Elissaios Papyrakis^*
, Natascha Wagner

^*Corresponding author for this work

Academic staff unit

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

212 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We use the synthetic control method to isolate the impact of the 2014–2016 Ebola virus disease epidemic on the Liberian economy. We find a slight initial decline in the unemployment rate, followed by an increase of roughly 1% (p-value ≤5%). The effect on inflation is more substantial (close to a 7% and 18% increase 4 and 5years after the outbreak) but statistically insignificant in the preceding period (2014–2016). We do not identify any other significant income and welfare effects. Synthetic control evidence for Guinea and Sierra Leone suggest even more limited long-term impacts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1478-1504
Number of pages	27
Journal	Journal of International Development
Volume	35
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3736
Publication status	Published - Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

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10.1002/jid.3736Licence: CC BY-NC

Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in LiberiaFinal published version, 4.36 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia: A synthetic control approach",

abstract = "We use the synthetic control method to isolate the impact of the 2014–2016 Ebola virus disease epidemic on the Liberian economy. We find a slight initial decline in the unemployment rate, followed by an increase of roughly 1\% (p-value ≤5\%). The effect on inflation is more substantial (close to a 7\% and 18\% increase 4 and 5years after the outbreak) but statistically insignificant in the preceding period (2014–2016). We do not identify any other significant income and welfare effects. Synthetic control evidence for Guinea and Sierra Leone suggest even more limited long-term impacts.",

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Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia: A synthetic control approach

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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Study Results from Erasmus University in the Area of Ebola Virus Reported (Evaluating the Economic Effects of the Ebola Virus Disease In Liberia: a Synthetic Control Approach)

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Evaluating the economic effects of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia: A synthetic control approach

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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Study Results from Erasmus University in the Area of Ebola Virus Reported (Evaluating the Economic Effects of the Ebola Virus Disease In Liberia: a Synthetic Control Approach)

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