Can Times of Crisis Strengthen ‘Blind Spots’ in Social Provision?

Re-evaluating the relationship between informal workers and the state in Colombia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-disciplinary project, involving the Institute of Americas and Institute of Global Health, conducted a survey in Colombia through Facebook to explore the relationship between informal workers and the state in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The survey asked participants for their views on a hypothetical social security system and its financing. The team obtained a sample of close to 900 participants, with responses regarding their tax attitudes, how they were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and their social spending preferences. The project team presented the methodology at the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics 2021 Conference and are currently in the process of analysing this data to provide a comprehensive picture of the appetite for social spending reform following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition, the project team are in the process of sharing their knowledge in remote data collection with colleagues in their respective departments, which is much needed when travel restrictions are changing the way research can be conducted. The project has also established some contact with Colombian policymakers, who have expressed interest in the results of research paper once published. The project team hope that this may help fiscal policy decision-making in Colombia.