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Unravelling the Role of Socioeconomic Forces in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Analysis

Author

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  • Kostas Rontos

    (Department of Sociology, University of the Aegean and Greece, University Hill, 81100 Lesvos Mytilene, Greece)

  • Maria-Eleni Syrmali

    (Department of Sociology, University of the Aegean and Greece, University Hill, 81100 Lesvos Mytilene, Greece)

  • Luca Salvati

    (Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, Corso Cefalonia, 70, AP 63023 Fermo, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly evolved into an acute health crisis with extensive socioeconomic and demographic consequences. The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic requires a refined (and more comprehensive) understanding of virus dissemination over space, transmission mechanisms, clinical features, and risk factors. In line with this assumption, the present study illustrates a comparative, empirical analysis of the role of socioeconomic and demographic dimensions in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic grounded on a large set of indicators comparing the background context across a global sample of countries. Results indicate that—in addition to epidemiological factors—basic socioeconomic forces significantly shaped contagions as well as hospitalization and death rates across countries. As a response to the global crisis driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, all-embracing access to healthcare services should be strengthened along with the development of sustainable health systems supported by appropriate resources and skills. The empirical findings of this study have direct implications for the coordination of on-going, global efforts aimed at containing COVID-19 (and other, future) pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Kostas Rontos & Maria-Eleni Syrmali & Luca Salvati, 2021. "Unravelling the Role of Socioeconomic Forces in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6340-:d:573386
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    12. Luca Salvati, 2016. "The Dark Side of the Crisis: Disparities in per Capita income (2000–12) and the Urban-Rural Gradient in Greece," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 107(5), pages 628-641, December.
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    1. Clio Ciaschini & Margherita Carlucci & Francesco Maria Chelli & Giuseppe Ricciardo Lamonica & Luca Salvati, 2023. "COVID-19 and decreasing consumption: a multisectoral assesment for Italy," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(2), pages 1162-1171.

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