DIGITAL DIVIDE DECODED: CAN E-COMMERCE AND REMOTE WORKFORCE ENHANCE ENTERPRISE RESILIENCE IN THE COVID-19 ERA?

Long Hai Vo; Thai Ha Le; Donghyun Park

doi:10.35866/caujed.2025.50.4.002

DIGITAL DIVIDE DECODED: CAN E-COMMERCE AND REMOTE WORKFORCE ENHANCE ENTERPRISE RESILIENCE IN THE COVID-19 ERA?

Long Hai Vo
, Thai Ha Le
, Donghyun Park

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We examine the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of 12,000 firms in 32 countries and find that the majority of firms experienced permanent or temporary closures, decreased sales and working hours, reduced production capacity, and worker layoffs. However, the impact was heterogeneous across countries and industries. After controlling for firm characteristics, macroeconomic conditions, and pandemic prevalence, firms that have access to digital infrastructure performed better than those that do not. The key channel is an enhanced capacity to adopt e-commerce business models and employ larger share of the remote workforce, which boosts resilience when social distancing measures are mandated.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	25-57
Number of pages	33
Journal	Journal of Economic Development
Volume	50
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.35866/caujed.2025.50.4.002
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

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10.35866/caujed.2025.50.4.002

Cite this

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title = "DIGITAL DIVIDE DECODED: CAN E-COMMERCE AND REMOTE WORKFORCE ENHANCE ENTERPRISE RESILIENCE IN THE COVID-19 ERA?",

abstract = "We examine the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of 12,000 firms in 32 countries and find that the majority of firms experienced permanent or temporary closures, decreased sales and working hours, reduced production capacity, and worker layoffs. However, the impact was heterogeneous across countries and industries. After controlling for firm characteristics, macroeconomic conditions, and pandemic prevalence, firms that have access to digital infrastructure performed better than those that do not. The key channel is an enhanced capacity to adopt e-commerce business models and employ larger share of the remote workforce, which boosts resilience when social distancing measures are mandated.",

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DIGITAL DIVIDE DECODED: CAN E-COMMERCE AND REMOTE WORKFORCE ENHANCE ENTERPRISE RESILIENCE IN THE COVID-19 ERA?

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Digital Divide Decoded: Can E-Commerce and Remote Workforces Enhance Enterprise Resilience in the COVID-19 Era?

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