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The geography of COVID-19 in Sweden

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  • Richard Florida

    (University of Toronto)

  • Charlotta Mellander

    (Jönköping University)

Abstract

This paper examines the geographic factors that are associated with the spread of COVID-19 during the first wave in Sweden. We focus particularly on the role of place-based factors versus factors associated with the spread or diffusion of COVID-19 across places. Sweden is a useful case study to examine the interplay of these factors because it did not impose mandatory lockdowns and because there were essentially no regional differences in the pandemic policies or strategies during the first wave of COVID-19. We examine the role of place-based factors like density, age structures and different socioeconomic factors on the geographic variation of COVID-19 cases and on deaths, across both municipalities and neighborhoods. Our findings show that factors associated with diffusion matter more than place-based factors in the geographic incidence of COVID-19 in Sweden. The most significant factor of all is proximity to places with higher levels of infections. COVID-19 is also higher in places that were hit earliest in the outbreak. Of place-based factors, the geographic variation in COVID-19 is most significantly related to the presence of high-risk nursing homes, and only modestly associated with factors like density, population size, income and other socioeconomic characteristics of places.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Florida & Charlotta Mellander, 2022. "The geography of COVID-19 in Sweden," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(1), pages 125-150, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:68:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s00168-021-01071-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-021-01071-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose & Chiara Burlina, 2021. "Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 728-752, September.
    2. Mehmet Ronael & Tüzin Baycan, 2022. "Place-based factors affecting COVID-19 incidences in Turkey," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 1053-1086, October.
    3. Martin Thomas Falk & Eva Hagsten & Xiang Lin, 2022. "Domestic tourism demand in the North and the South of Europe in the Covid-19 summer of 2020," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 537-553, October.
    4. Ismail, Muhammad & Warsame, Abukar & Wilhelmsson, Mats, 2021. "An exploratory analysis of housing and the distribution of COVID-19 in Sweden," Working Paper Series 21/5, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Real Estate and Construction Management & Banking and Finance.
    5. Javier Barbero & Ernesto Rodríguez-Crespo, 2022. "Technological, institutional, and geographical peripheries: regional development and risk of poverty in the European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 311-332, October.
    6. S. A. Tarkhov, 2021. "Geography of the Passenger Turnover Dynamics at Airports in Europe and Russia’s Regions in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 435-453, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    I10; J19; R23;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J19 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Other
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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