Quasi-experimental analysis demonstrates heightened financial vulnerability in Indian households during severe contagion, highlighting protective roles of active out-migrants.
Key Points
Elevated COVID-19 incidence caused a larger increase in the financial vulnerability index, but active out-migrant family members mitigated these adverse household shocks.
A difference-in-differences approach with coarsened exact matching tracked district infection rates and satellite-based night-time lights across panel household surveys.
Highlights how unequal pandemic shocks aggravate household financial vulnerability, showing that the loss of migrant support substantially heightened economic strain.