Air Pollution and Mobility, What Carries COVID-19?

C. Vladimir Rodríguez-Caballero and J. Eduardo Vera-Valdés
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C. Vladimir Rodríguez-Caballero: Department of Statistics, ITAM, Río Hondo No. 1, Col. Progreso Tizapán, Álvaro Obregón, CDMX, Ciudad de México 01080, Mexico
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Carlos Vladimir Rodriguez Caballero

Econometrics, 2021, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: This paper tests if air pollution serves as a carrier for SARS-CoV-2 by measuring the effect of daily exposure to air pollution on its spread by panel data models that incorporates a possible commonality between municipalities. We show that the contemporary exposure to particle matter is not the main driver behind the increasing number of cases and deaths in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Remarkably, we also find that the cross-dependence between municipalities in the Mexican region is highly correlated to public mobility, which plays the leading role behind the rhythm of contagion. Our findings are particularly revealing given that the Mexico City Metropolitan Area did not experience a decrease in air pollution during COVID-19 induced lockdowns.

Keywords: pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; carrier; mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B23 C C00 C01 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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