The welfare impacts of Covid-19 on the U.S. salmon sector

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research estimates the effects of COVID-19 on the U.S. supply and demand for salmon over two distinct periods. The first period reflects the first year (2020) since the COVID-19 outbreak, and the second period covers the outbreak’s second year (2021). The effects of COVID-19 on salmon prices, domestic production, and imports are analysed through graphics, elasticities, and spatial welfare economics derived from the equilibrium displacement model of the U.S. salmon market. In the first year, COVID-19 caused a reduction in domestic demand. As a result, U.S. salmon producers and consumers lost $302 million. Consumer loss accounts for 87% of this value. In 2021, however, domestic consumption recovered, with a positive effect of $447 million on consumers, outweighing the negative impact from 2020. Together, the domestic producers and consumers gained approximately $512 million. The net market gain (a combination of the first- and second-year effects) was $210 million. These results are subject to the magnitudes of change in demand and supply due to COVID-19 and transportation costs.