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Abstract

This paper examines the resilience of retail stores—whether they maintain their store visits—during COVID-19 across jurisdictions with different socioeconomic characteristics. Using cell phone locational data, I adopted an event study design to compare visits to retail stores across counties with different mitigation policies and socioeconomic characteristics. I found a significant decline in-store visits by 16 percent after three rounds of community mitigation strategies, which shows a lack of resilience. Meanwhile, the distribution of resilience was unequal across jurisdictions with different socioeconomic profiles. Policy recommendations are made to support retail businesses and promote inclusive development.

Keywords

retail store visits COVID-19 resilience socioeconomic characteristics event study

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The Resilience of Retail Stores amid COVID-19

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