Suspension of Depreciation and Amortization vs. Government Financial Support for Businesses: An International Comparison

Abstract

The macroeconomic crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many governments to take emergency actions for safeguarding businesses. In Italy, the suspension of depreciation and amortization (D&A) accounting represented a notable measure as it did not entail expenses for the state. This study aims to evaluate the impact of D&A suspension compared to that of international policies implemented with public financial disbursement. The results show that the measure – quantified in terms of lower business losses – has reached a significant extent, comparable to that of actions financed through public spending.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemic
• depreciation and amortization
• public financial support
• Italian micro-enterprises
• international comparison