What were the effects of the bubonic plague in the mid-sixth century?

The massive depopulation from the deaths of millions caused extensive economic ramifications for the Byzantine Empire. With such a decline in population, there were less people to pay taxes, which were raised disproportionately for the survivors. The decline in population also affected the number of workers and soldiers available, which put a damper on Justinian's efforts to regain control of the western empire. Landowners took possession of vacant lands and expelled peasant workers, who were often driven into poverty. This, in turn, led the now-landless to head to urban areas to find work; however, they were able to find higher wages because the labor pool had been depleted from plague.