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

Author

Listed:
  • Lucas Bretschger

    (Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH), ETH Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Elise Grieg

    (Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH), ETH Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Paul J.J. Welfens

    (EIIW/University of Wuppertal)

  • Tian Xiong

    (EIIW/University of Wuppertal)

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. 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 different health policy stringencies does not yield clear conclusions. Our results suggest that improving local air quality helps reduce the negative effects of a coronavirus pandemic significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucas Bretschger & Elise Grieg & Paul J.J. Welfens & Tian Xiong, 2020. "Corona Fatality Development and the Environment: Empirical Evidence for OECD Countries," CER-ETH Economics working paper series 20/336, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:eth:wpswif:20-336
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    File URL: https://www.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/mtec/cer-eth/cer-eth-dam/documents/working-papers/WP-20-336.pdf
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    Citations

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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.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Coronavirus Pandemic; Fatality Rates; Local Air Pollution; OECD Countries; Health Systems; Environmental Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management

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