Firm Behavior During an Epidemic

We derive a model in which firms operate in an epidemic environment and internalize infections among their employees in the workplace. The model is calibrated to fit the properties of the Covid-19 epidemic. We show that firms have incentives to fight against infections and can do so very effectively by increasing teleworking and rotating employees between on-site work, teleworking, and leave. Subsidies to sick leave reduce the cost of sick workers and raise workplace infections. Furlough policies are successful in reducing infections and saving lives. Firms delay and weaken the fight against infections during economic downturns.

Keywords: Covid-19, epidemic, firm behaviour, on-site work, policies, teleworking

JEL Classification: C630, D200, D210, I100, I180, L230

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Brotherhood, Luiz and Jerbashian, Vahagn, Firm Behavior During an Epidemic (2020). CESifo Working Paper No. 8478, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3672068 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3672068