EXTENDING SOCIAL PROTECTION DURING TIMES OF CRISIS: THE DATA REVOLUTION

"Extending Social Protection During Times of Crisis: The Data Revolution" examines the adaptation of social protection systems to economic changes and crises by leveraging new data systems. It analyses data from 106 countries from the 1980s onwards, showing that social protection, particularly social assistance spending, has become increasingly responsive during economic downturns. The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted as a period where social protection spending was more adaptive compared to previous crises, with an expansion of non-contributory interventions. The work discusses how innovations in data collection, such as real-time socio-economic tracking, can improve the adaptability of social protection systems, especially in reaching informal workers and other vulnerable groups. It emphasises the need for social protection systems that can rapidly respond to crises and provide support to individuals both within and outside formal employment.