Publication type
Book Chapter
Series Number
No. 4
Series
Productivity and the pandemic: challenges and insights from Covid-19
Authors
Editors
Publication date
January 19, 2021
Summary:
Small businesses are widely regarded as an important aspect of the productivity puzzle in the UK, representing over 98% of the business base. However, the diversity of small businesses means that supporting sole-traders and micro-businesses is not straightforward - a fact borne out in small business policy over the past three decades. The chapter will review emerging evidence and insights as to the impact of Covid-19 on the activity of sole-traders and micro-businesses, before discussing the appropriateness of the Government's response. As businesses rework their business models there remain questions concerning their survival and resilience, the implications of which will shape the economic recovery and prospect of any future productivity gains (or not). The chapter discusses the potential shake-out of the “long-tail” or “reluctant” self-employed, the differential outlook facing 'tradeable' and 'non-tradable' businesses, and implications of supply chain breakdown as key challenges facing micro businesses. Finally, we conclude with some thoughts on why productivity will still matter and remain salient, whether the term remains in favour or not.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800374607.00010
Subjects
Link
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/productivity-and-the-pandemic-9781800374591.html
Notes
Not held in Hilary Doughty Research Library - bibliographic reference only
#526550