Ecuador's economy was one of the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Governments were forced to implement lockdown measures, which deepened an already severe economic slump. Despite efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, a New York Times analysis of mortality data found that nearly three times as many deaths occurred between March and October 2020 as reported by the government. A team of local PEP researchers conducted a study using simulation methodology to evaluate the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on household welfare. They found that as wages fell by more than half in May 2020, cash transfers implemented by the government in response to the crisis may have been a vital lifeline for low-income groups. Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
