This rapid scoping review of existing evidence and research gaps addressed the following question: what research evidence exists and what are the research gaps at global, regional, and national levels on interventions to protect jobs, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and formal/informal sector workers in socioeconomic response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic? The results are based on 79 publications deemed eligible for inclusion after the screening and prioritizing of 1,658 records. The findings are organized according to the 3 main categories of socioeconomic interventions—protecting jobs, enterprises, and workers—although the 3 are intertwined. Most results were derived from global-level gray literature with recommendations for interventions and implicit links to the sustainable development goals. Based on research gaps uncovered in the review, future implementation science research needs to focus on designing, implementing, evaluating, and scaling: effective evidence-based socioeconomic interventions; equity-focused, redistributive, and transformative interventions; comprehensive packages of complementary interventions; interventions to upend root causes of systemic social inequities; collaborative and participatory approaches; interventions that integrate environmental sustainability; and city-level interventions. Failing to consider the environmental dimensions of economic recovery is shortsighted and will ultimately exacerbate social inequities and poverty and undermine economic stability in the long term.
World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. 2008.
5.
MuntanerCNgEVanroelenCChristSEatonWW. Social stratification, social closure, and social class as determinants of mental health disparities. In: Aneshensel CS, Phelan JC, Bierman A, eds. Handbook of the Sociology of Mental Health. Springer; 2013:205–227.
6.
BravemanPA. Epidemiology and (neo-) colonialism. J Epidemiol Commun Health. 2001;55:160–161.
7.
DorlingD. Slowdown: the end of the great acceleration—and why it’s good for the planet, the economy, and our lives. Yale University Press; 2020.
8.
BuhejiMda Costa CunhaKBekaG, et al. The extent of COVID-19 pandemic socio-economic impact on global poverty. A global integrative multidisciplinary review. Am J Econ. 2020;2020(4):213–224.
9.
StiglitzJE. Freefall: America, free markets, and the sinking of the world economy. WW Norton & Company; 2010.
10.
HarveyD. A brief history of neoliberalism. Oxford University Press; 2007.
11.
MuntanerCSolarOVanroelenC, et al. Unemployment, informal work, precarious employment, child labor, slavery, and health inequalities: pathways and mechanisms. Int J Heal Serv. 2010;40(2):281–295.
12.
BenachJVivesAAmableMVanroelenCTarafaGMuntanerC. Precarious employment: understanding an emerging social determinant of health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2014;35(1):229–253.
13.
StandingG. The precariat—THE new dangerous class. 2014.
14.
DorlingD. Inequality and the 1%.Verso; 2019.
15.
KutzinJYipWCashinC. No alternative financing strategies for universal health coverage. In: SchefflerRM, ed. World scientific handbook of global health economics and public policy: volume 1: the economics of health and health systems. University of California; 2016:267–309.
16.
United Nations. Sustainable development goals. 2020. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
17.
International Labour Organization. The COVID-19 response: getting gender equality right for a better future for women at work. 2020.
Guillen-RoyoMGuardiolaJGarcia-QueroF. Sustainable development in times of economic crisis: a needs-based illustration from granada (Spain). J Clean Prod. 2017;150:267–276.
United Nations. Forests: at the heart of a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020.
22.
ArkseyHO’MalleyL. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2005;8(1):19–32.
23.
PetersMGodfreyCMcInerneyPMunnZTriccoACKhalilH. Chapter 11: Scoping Reviews. In: AromatarisEMunnZ, eds. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, and reinsert publisher: JBI Collaboration. 2020.
24.
TriccoACLangloisEVStrausSE, eds. Rapid reviews to strengthen health policy and systems: a practical guide. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2017.
25.
World Bank Group. CLUSTER 4: Recovery Planning: Livelihood and Job Creation; 2013.
26.
World Bank Group. East Asia and Pacific in the Time of COVID-19. Washington DC; 2020.
27.
WilkinsonAAliHBedfordJ, et al. Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements. Environ Urban. 2020:1–20.
28.
EspeyJHarperCJonesN. Crisis, care and childhood: the impact of economic crisis on care work in poor households in the developing world. Gend Dev. 2010;18(2):291–307.
29.
OziliP. COVID-19 in Africa: socio-economic impact, policy response and opportunities. Int J Sociol Soc Policy. 2020.
30.
United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality. IANWGE Compendium on Integrating Gender Considerations in the Response to COVID-19: Key Messages and Actions from UN Entities; 2020.
31.
LoayzaNV. Costs and trade-offs in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: a developing country perspective. 2020.
32.
World Bank. Understanding the poverty impact of the global financial crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean. 2014. Research and Policy Brief;No. 35. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33764.
MullerTSchultenT. Ensuring fair short-time work—a European overview. European Trade Union Institute, 2020.
39.
HalvorsenCJYulikovaO. Older workers in the time of COVID-19: the senior community service employment program and implications for social work. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2020;00(00):1–12.
UtzRFeyenEAhuedFVNieOMoonJ. Macro-financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020.
42.
International Labour Organization. Unlocking opportunities for decent job creation in Lebanon’s horticulture sector. Geneva; 2020. https://www.ilo.org/.
43.
RasnacaZ. Essential but unprotected: highly mobile workers in the EU; 2020.
44.
GuadagnoL. Migrants and the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial analysis. Migration Research Series N° 602020. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva. https://www.iom.int.
45.
International Organization for Migration. Countering xenophobia and stigma to foster social cohesion in the COVID-19 response and recovery; 2020.
46.
HeymannJRaubAWaisathW, et al. Protecting health during COVID-19 and beyond: a global examination of paid sick leave design in 193 countries*. Glob Public Health. 2020;15(7):925–934.
47.
GhilarducciTFarmandA. Older workers on the COVID-19-frontlines without paid sick leave. J Aging Soc Policy. 2020;32(4-5):471–476.
48.
RobinsonJKengatharanN. Exploring the effect of Covid-19 on small and medium enterprises: early evidence from Sri Lanka. Vol. 10. 2020. https://hpb.health.gov.lk/covid19-dashboard/.
49.
Martin LopezSGarcia-Gutierrez FernandezCLejarriaga Perez de las VacasG. The financial difficulties of the labour managed firms because of the economic crisis: the creation of a financial organization. Revesco-Revista Estud Coop. 2010;(100):11–42.
50.
International Labour Organization. COVID-19 crisis and the informal economy: immediate responses and policy challenges. Geneva; 2020.
51.
International Trade Centre. Supporting small businesses through the COVID-19 crisis and towards the future: a 15-point action plan. 2020. https://www.intracen.org.
ASEAN Secretariat. Regional and country reports of the ASEAN assessment on the social impact of the global financial crisis. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat; 2010.
54.
World Bank Group. Vietnam: potential policies responses to the COVID-19 epidemic; 2020.
55.
ScottEKLeymonAS. Making ends meet during the great recession: how child care subsidies matter to Low-wage workers. J Poverty. 2013;17(1):63–85.
56.
World Bank Group. Do’s and don’ts of trade policy in the response to COVID-19. Washington DC; 2020.
57.
BizozaARSibomanaS. Indicative socio-economic impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Eastern Africa: case of Rwanda. 2020. https://www.worldometers.info/coronaviru.
58.
AndroniceanuA. Major structural changes in the EU policies due to the problems and risks caused by covid-19. Admin Manag Public. 2020;2020(34):137–149.
59.
LundHHvelplundF. The economic crisis and sustainable development: the design of job creation strategies by use of concrete institutional economics. Energy. 2012;43(1):192–200.
60.
PrideauxBThompsonMPabelA. Lessons from COVID-19 can prepare global tourism for the economic transformation needed to combat climate change. Tour Geogr. 2020.
61.
GopelM. A social green deal, with just transition—The European answer to the coronavirus crisis. Social Europe. 2020;1–7.
62.
World Bank Group. COVID-19 policy responses: why credit reporting matters in the stabilization and recovery phases? COVID 19 emergency policy responses: why credit reporting matters in the stabilization and recovery phases? 1. 2020. https://financialit.net/news/covid-19/impact-covid-19-personal-loan-market.
63.
World Bank Group Malaysia Hub. Causes and impacts of job displacements and public policy responses; 2020.
64.
TijdensKvan KlaverenMBispinckRDribbuschHÖzF. Loonsverlaging of reductie van het personeelsbestand in de economische crisis? Rapportage van duitse en nederlandse werknemers. Mens Maatsch. 2014;89(4):419–445.
65.
World Bank Group. Protecting people and economies: integrated policy responses to COVID-19. Washington DC; 2020.
International Labor Organization. Gender in employment policies and programmes: what works for women? Geneva; 2017. https://www.ilo.org/publns.
68.
Bénassy-QuéréAWederB, Centre for Economic Policy Research (Great Britain). Europe in the time of covid-19. 2020.
69.
KimuraFThangaveluSMNarjokoDFindlayC. Pandemic (COVID-19) policy, regional cooperation and the emerging global production network†. Asian Econ J. 2020;34(1):3–27.
OmarARCIshakSJusohMA. The impact of covid-19 movement control order on SMEs’ businesses and survival strategies. Geografia Malays J Soc Space. 2020;16(2):139–150.
GentiliniUAlmenfiMDaleP, et al. Social protection and jobs responses to COVID-19: a real-time review of country measures; "Living Paper" version 12 (July 10, 2020).
74.
World Bank Group. Gender equality and women’s empowerment in disaster recovery; 2018.
75.
EmPower, UN Environment Programme, UN Women. Gender and Climate Change in the Context of COVID-19; 2020. https://bit.ly/2L9BDy3.
76.
CorburnJVlahovDMberuB, et al. Slum health: arresting COVID-19 and improving well-being in urban informal settlements. J Urban Heal New York Acad Med. 2020;97(3):348–357.
77.
MehrotraS. The impact of the economic crisis on the informal sector and poverty in East Asia. Glob Soc Policy. 2009;9:101–118.
78.
WilliamsCCKayaogluA. COVID-19 and undeclared work: impacts and policy responses in Europe. Serv Ind J. 2020;18:914–931.
79.
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing. Informal workers in the COVID-19 crisis: a global picture of sudden impact and long-term risk. Manchester; 2020.
80.
Johnston-AnumonwoIDoaneDL. Globalization, economic crisis and Africa’s informal economy women workers. Singap J Trop Geogr. 2011;32(1):8–21.
81.
HumphreysG. The economic crisis and discrimination against migrant workers. World Bank Magazine. 2011:1–3.
International Organization for Migration. Why migration matters for “recovering better” from COVID-19. 2020.
84.
World Health Organization. Working for health and growth: investing in the health workfoce. WHO Press; 2016. https://www.who.int.
85.
World Bank Group. Trade facilitation best practices implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington DC; 2020.
86.
International Labour Organization. Employment-intensive investment programme (EIIP) guidance: adjusting labour practices in employment-intensive works in response to COVID-19; 2020. http://ilo.org/eiip.
87.
KatzASHardyBJFirestoneMLoftersAMorton-NinomiyaME. Vagueness, power and public health: use of ‘vulnerable‘ in public health literature. Crit Public Health. 2019;00(00):1–11.
UNICEF, International Labour Organization. Family-friendly policies and other good workplace practices in the context of COVID-19: key steps employers can take; 2020.
91.
International Labour Organization. Social protection responses to the `19 pandemic in developing countries: strengthening resilience by building universal social protection; 2020.
92.
United Nations Environment Programme. Working with the environment to protect people: UNEP’s COVID-19 response. 2020.
93.
LeisherCBookerFAgarwalB, et al. A preliminary theory of change detailing how women’s participation can improve the management of local forests and fisheries. SocArXiv, 16 July 2018.
94.
RyanNEEl AyadiAM. A call for a gender-responsive, intersectional approach to address COVID-19. Glob Public Health. 2020;5(9):1404–1412.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
