Optimal Lockdown in a Commuting Network

We study optimal dynamic lockdowns against COVID-19 within a commuting network. Our framework integrates canonical spatial epidemiology and trade models is applied to cities with varying initial viral spread: Seoul, Daegu, the New York City metropolitan area (NYM). Spatial achieve substantially smaller income losses than uniform lockdowns. In NYM Daegu—with large shocks—the lockdown restricts inflows central districts before gradual relaxation, while in Seoul it imposes low temporal but variation. Actual reductions were too weak locations Daegu strong across Seoul. (JEL H51, I12, I18, R23, R41)