Project INEQ RS Covid-19

Social Stability in Serbia Challenged? Pandemics, Economic losses, Inequality and Policy Responses – INEQ RS Covid-19

Although projections indicate a relatively mild and temporary decrease of Serbian GDP, the economic losses of different groups resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic are yet unknown and less easy to predict. Even before the pandemic, Serbia was characterized by high levels of inequality and poverty. Recent research confirms that vulnerable workers: informally employed, self-employed, low-wage earners, employees with non-permanent contracts, small business employees, as well as women and young people are at the highest risk to suffer from this economic downturn.

The project will use a state-of-the-art methodology which includes the analysis of different data sources and rigorous research methods to 1) identify the groups with the highest losses due to the epidemic, 2) analyze the effects on their labor market and inequality outcomes, and 3) provide a cost-benefit analysis of national programs implemented and suggest further evidence-based measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis caused by Covid-19.

The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia funds INEQ RS Covid-19.

Further details about the project can be found in the document attached here.

Project team members

• Marko Vladisavljević, Principal Investigator
• Lara Lebedinski, Senior Researcher
• Jelena Banović, Junior Researcher
• Valentina Vukmirović, Junior Researcher
• Cristiano Perugini, External Project Associate

Research reports

• Policy report - Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market and the position of vulnerable groups in Serbia
• Policy report - Policy makers’ response to labour market issues – global insights and future challenges
• Policy report - Policy makers’ response to labour market issues resulting from COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia

Policy briefs

• Policy brief - Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market and the position of vulnerable groups in Serbia
• Policy brief - Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on poverty and income inequality in Serbia and cost-benefit analysis of the implemented income support measures
• Policy brief - Institutional Response to Covid-19 pandemic effects on the labour market - Lessons learned and future perspectives

Other project outputs

• Conference presentation - The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Labour Market Outcomes of Vulnerable Groups in Serbia
• Microsimulation package INEQ-RS-COVID-19 - Version 1

Data available from the project you can find here.