Analysing the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19: a new regional geography or pandemic enhanced inequalities?

In the UK socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 mitigations over course pandemic (March 2020 to time writing in January 2022) have been experienced unevenly and with differential intensities at both regional local scales. Using individual-level geocoded data (from Understanding Society: Household Longitudinal Survey study) linking people places which they live, we consider disparities risks outcomes financial hardship as a result early stage mitigations. This paper provides direct evidence from concentration vulnerabilities areas high deprivation, undermining capacity individuals within those shelter economic shocks. Furthermore, geography appears largely compositional – attributable pre-existing characteristics regions neighbourhoods, rather than being explicitly driven by spatial contextual effect their social or physical environments. has implications for policy, Levelling Up agenda particular. It is not neighbourhoods that give rise per se, but individual disadvantages living them. The persistence dis/advantages means there need only ameliorative packages also use where (regional) can break long-term place trajectories lock existing turn yield unequal opportunities periods crisis.