The (Structural) Gravity of Epidemics

Alejandro Cunat and Robert Zymek

No 8295, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: Epidemiological models assume gravity-like interactions of individuals across space without microfoundations. We combine a simple epidemiological frame-work 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: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Journal Article: The (structural) gravity of epidemics (2022)
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