The (structural) gravity of epidemics

Alejandro Cunat and Robert Zymek

European Economic Review, 2022, vol. 144, issue C

Abstract: Epidemiological models assume gravity-like interactions of individuals across space without microfoundations. We combine a simple epidemiological framework with a dynamic model of individual location choice. The model predicts that flows of people across space obey a structural gravity equation. By means of an application to data from Great Britain we show that our structural-gravity framework: provides a rationale for quarantines; offers a clear mapping from observed geography to the spread of a disease; and makes it possible to evaluate the welfare impact of (expected and unexpected) mobility restrictions in the face of a deadly epidemic.

Keywords: Epidemics; Covid-19; Gravity; Regional mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E65 F14 F17 J61 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The (Structural) Gravity of Epidemics (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:144:y:2022:i:c:s0014292122000289

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104082

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