Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Andrés Rodríguez-Pose and Chiara Burlina

No 2051, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: This paper examines the uneven geography of COVID-19-related excess mortality during the first wave of the pandemic in Europe, before assessing the factors behind the geographical differences in impact. The analysis of 206 regions across 23 European countries reveals a distinct COVID-19 geography. Excess deaths were concentrated in a limited number of regions —expected deaths exceeded 20% in just 16 regions— with more than 40% of the regions considered experiencing no excess mortality during the first six months of 2020. Highly connected regions, in colder and dryer climates, with high air pollution levels, and relatively poorly endowed health systems witnessed the highest incidence of excess mortality. Institutional factors also played an important role. The first wave hit regions with a combination of weak and declining formal institutional quality and fragile informal institutions hardest. Low and declining national government effectiveness, together with a limited capacity to reach out across societal divides, and a frequent tendency to meet with friends and family were powerful drivers of regional excess mortality.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; institutions; regions; Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H75 O43 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-11, Revised 2020-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-geo
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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http://econ.geo.uu.nl/peeg/peeg2051.pdf Version November 2020 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (2021)
Working Paper: Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021)
Working Paper: Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
Working Paper: Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
Working Paper: Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:egu:wpaper:2051

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