COVID-19 Infection Spread and Human Mobility

Masahiko Shibamoto, Shoka Hayaki and Yoshitaka Ogisu
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Yoshitaka Ogisu: Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, JAPAN

No DP2021-16, Discussion Paper Series from Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University

Abstract: Given that real-world infection-spread scenarios pose many uncertainties, and predictions and simulations may differ from reality, this study explores factors essential for more realistically describing an infection situation. It furnishes three approaches to the argument that human mobility can create an acceleration of the spread of COVID-19 infection and its cyclicality under the simultaneous relationship. First, the study presents a dynamic model comprising the infection–mobility trade-off and mobility demand, where an increase in human mobility can cause infection explosion and where, conversely, an increase in new infections can be made temporary by suppressing mobility. Second, using time-series data for Japan, it presents empirical evidence for a stochastic trend and cycle in new infection cases. Third, it employs macroeconometrics to ascertain the feasibility of our model’s predictions. Accordingly, from March 2020 to May 2021, the sources of COVID-19 infection spread in Japan varied significantly over time, and each change in the trend and cycle of new infection cases explained approximately half the respective variation.

Keywords: COVID-19; New infection cases; Infection–mobility trade-off; Mobility demand; Stochastic trend and cycle; Macroeconometrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C32 E31 E32 I10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 53 pages
Date: 2021-07, Revised 2022-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-mac and nep-ore
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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https://www.rieb.kobe-u.ac.jp/academic/ra/dp/English/DP2021-16.pdf Revised version, 2022 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: COVID-19 infection spread and human mobility (2022)
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