Description

This work uses survey data to study the immediate impact of the public policies implemented during the Covid crisis on the Chilean households. I show debt deferral initiatives only reach a few highly indebted agents, especially concentrated on richer families. Tax relief measures had a broad reach across the population, but with little financial impact. However, income and expenses support had both a wide reach and a strong impact on households, especially for poorer families. A broadening and scaling up of policy e¤orts should therefore focus on direct income support for families.