Pandemic and Economics

Covid-19 continues to hold a tight grip on the world. Around the globe, experts from a wide range of disciplines are studying the pandemic and its impact on our lives. To grasp the economic dimension of the crisis, various studies have been underway at the Department of Economics since the outbreak of Covid-19. What is the economic damage, how can it be repaired, and what awaits us in the coming years: recession or a structural change? This is where our online event series comes in, with four experts presenting and discussing current findings from their research areas.

The series kicks off with economic historian Prof. Tobias Straumann, who compares the Corona pandemic with past crises and puts it in a historical context with a focus on Switzerland. A week later, labor economist Prof. Teodora Boneva will provide insights into her study focusing on the impact of the pandemic on the inequality in the labor market and show what can be expected. The project uses real-time survey data from the US, UK, and Germany. This is followed by a shift in perspective with neuroeconomist Prof. Christian Ruff, whose research explores the neurological basis of human behavior and, in light of the pandemic, asks how and why people follow social norms. The series concludes with junior scientist Dr. Mathilde Le Mogine, who presents recent data from her research on the impact of Covid-19 on global trade, comparing the first and second waves of the pandemic.

Kickstart your day with coffee and research, and join us for this exclusive event series. Following the moderated discussion, you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Sign up now. We look forward to your contribution to the discussion.

Program

4 March 2021, 8:30–9:00
Eine Krise wie keine andere? (Event in German)
Tobias Straumann, University of Zurich

11 March 2021, 8:30–9:00
The Covid-19 Inequality Project: Impact on the Labor Market
Teodora Boneva, Department of Economics, University of Zurich

18 March 2021, 8:30–9:00
Why We Comply with Social Norms
Christian Ruff, Department of Economics, University of Zurich

25 March 2021, 8:30–9:00
Global Trade in Times of Covid-19
Mathilde Le Moigne, Department of Economics, University of Zurich