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The benefits of remoteness – digital mobility data, regional road infrastructure, and COVID-19 infections

Author

Listed:
  • Krenz Astrid

    (1948 University of Sussex, Digit Research Centre, Jubilee Building, Falmer, BN1 9SN Brighton, UK)

  • Strulik Holger

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Economics, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3, 37073 Göttingen, Germany)

Abstract

We investigate the regional distribution of the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany. We use a novel digital mobility dataset, that traces the undertaken trips on Easter Sunday 2020 and instrument them with regional accessibility as measured by the regional road infrastructure of Germany’s 401 NUTS III regions. We identify a robust negative association between the number of infected cases per capita and average travel time on roads to the next major urban center. What has been a hinderance for economic performance in good economic times, appears to be a benevolent factor in the COVID-19 pandemic: bad road infrastructure. Using road infrastructure as an instrument for mobility reductions we assess the causal effect of mobility reductions on infections. The study shows that keeping mobility of people low is a main factor to reduce infections. Aggregating over all regions, our results suggest that there would have been about 55,600 infections less on May 5th, 2020, if mobility at the onset of the disease were 10 percent lower.

Suggested Citation

  • Krenz Astrid & Strulik Holger, 2021. "The benefits of remoteness – digital mobility data, regional road infrastructure, and COVID-19 infections," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 22(3), pages 257-287, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:germec:v:22:y:2021:i:3:p:257-287:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/ger-2020-0068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Donsimoni Jean Roch & Glawion René & Hartl Tobias & Plachter Bodo & Timmer Jens & Wälde Klaus & Weber Enzo & Weiser Constantin, 2020. "Covid-19 in Deutschland – Erklärung, Prognose und Einfluss gesundheitspolitischer Maßnahmen," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 21(3), pages 250-262, September.
    2. Mitze, Timo & Kosfeld, Reinhold & Rode, Johannes & Wälde, Klaus, 2020. "Face masks considerably reduce COVID-19 cases in Germany," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 124130, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    3. Lesley Chiou & Catherine Tucker, 2020. "Social Distancing, Internet Access and Inequality," NBER Working Papers 26982, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Andreas Mense & Claus Michelsen, 2020. "Räumliche Ausbreitung von COVID-19 durch interregionale Verflechtungen [Spatial Interregional Spread of COVID-19 Through Commuter Interdependence]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 100(6), pages 416-421, June.
    5. Michael Greenstone & Vishan Nigam, 2020. "Does Social Distancing Matter?," Working Papers 2020-26, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    6. Kim, Junghwan & Lee, Bumsoo, 2019. "More than travel time: New accessibility index capturing the connectivity of transit services," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 8-18.
    7. Maloney,William F. & Taskin,Temel, 2020. "Determinants of Social Distancing and Economic Activity during COVID-19 : A Global View," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9242, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mounir Amdaoud & Giuseppe Arcuri & Nadine Levratto, 2021. "Are regions equal in adversity? A spatial analysis of spread and dynamics of COVID-19 in Europe," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(4), pages 629-642, June.
    2. Fischer Kai, 2022. "Thinning out spectators: Did football matches contribute to the second COVID-19 wave in Germany?," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 23(4), pages 595-640, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital technology; Mobility data; Regional road infrastructure; Germany; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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