Did work from home “really” work during COVID-19?

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we examine whether work from home (WFH) had an impact on firm productivity during the COVID-19 period. Design/methodology/approach: We employ a panel fixed-effect model using 79,201 firm-quarter observations in a cross-country setting of 68 countries. Findings: First, we find that firms that employed WFH contributed to real sector growth during the pandemic due to greater capital expenditure compared to otherwise. Second, we find that WFH amenable firms turned over assets better than less WFH amenable firms. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of WFH on firms’ investment and efficiency using a cross-country setting.