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Corona Fatality Development, Health Indicators and the Environment: Empirical Evidence for OECD Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Lucas Bretschger

    (ETH Zurich, CER-ETH Centre for Economic Research, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics)

  • Elise Grieg

    (ETH Zurich, CER-ETH Centre for Economic Research, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics)

  • Paul J.J. Welfens

    (Europäisches Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW))

  • Tian Xiong

    (Europäisches Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW))

Abstract

This paper presents empirical results on coronavirus fatality rates from cross-country regressions for OECD countries. We include medical, environmental and policy variables in our analysis to explain the death rates when holding case rates constant. We find that the share of the aged population, obesity rates, and local air pollution levels have a positive effect on fatality rates across the different estimation equations, while the share of smokers is not significant in most specifications. The strategy of aiming to achieve herd immunity has a significant positive effect on death rates. Other medical and policy variables discussed in the public sphere do not show a significant impact in our regressions. An evaluation of the different policy stringencies yields mixed results. Our results suggest that improving local air quality helps reduce the negative effects of a coronavirus pandemic significantly. Moreover, we conclude that contributions to certain multilateral organizations-•, including the WHO, should not only refer to standard elements of payments such as income (or trade) but also to the share of the population aged 65 years and over and PM2.5 indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucas Bretschger & Elise Grieg & Paul J.J. Welfens & Tian Xiong, 2020. "Corona Fatality Development, Health Indicators and the Environment: Empirical Evidence for OECD Countries," EIIW Discussion paper disbei274, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:bwu:eiiwdp:disbei274
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sangeeta Bansal & David Zilberman, 2020. "Macrorelationship between average life expectancy and prevalence of obesity: Theory and evidence from global data," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(3), pages 403-427, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucas Bretschger & Elise Grieg & Paul J. J. Welfens & Tian Xiong, 2020. "COVID-19 infections and fatalities developments: empirical evidence for OECD countries and newly industrialized economies," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 801-847, October.
    2. Paul J. J. Welfens, 2020. "Trump’s Trade Policy, BREXIT, Corona Dynamics, EU Crisis and Declining Multilateralism," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 563-634, July.

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    1. Bansal, Sangeeta & Zilberman, David, 2021. "Obesity and Life Expectancy: Why Disaggregation Methods?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315276, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Gupta, Shivani & Bansal, Sangeeta, 2020. "Health Implications of Obesity: An Evidence from India," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304438, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Lucas Bretschger & Elise Grieg & Paul J. J. Welfens & Tian Xiong, 2020. "COVID-19 infections and fatalities developments: empirical evidence for OECD countries and newly industrialized economies," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 801-847, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Coronavirus Pandemic; Case Fatalities; OECD Countries; Health Systems; Economic Development; Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F00 - International Economics - - General - - - General
    • F01 - International Economics - - General - - - Global Outlook
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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