THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY IN MEDAN CITY

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for public policy in various countries, particularly in terms of economic resilience and the support provided by governments. This study aims to analyze the early impacts of the pandemic on household economic resilience and public policy responses in Medan, Indonesia. The data used in this research were derived from a survey conducted between April 8 and April 20, 2020, covering 867 households. Although the data reflect the initial conditions of the pandemic, the findings indicate gaps in access to social assistance and the unevenness of policy implementation. This article also discusses the role of public policy in mitigating the economic impacts on vulnerable groups. Furthermore, it recommends the need for more inclusive and responsive public policies to address long-term crises, with an emphasis on more equitable distribution of assistance. This study contributes to updating the existing literature on economic resilience during the pandemic and provides insights for policymakers in designing more adaptive public policies.

Keywords: public policy, economic resilience, urban community.