The response of governments to the COVID-19 outbreak was foremost oriented to two objectives: saving lives and limiting economic losses. However, the effectiveness and success factors of interventions were unknown ex-ante. This study aims to shed light on the drivers of countries' performances during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We measure performances by excess mortality and GDP growth adjusted for additional fiscal stimulus. We conduct an empirical analysis in two stages: first, using hierarchical clustering, we partition countries based on their similarity in health and economic outcomes. Second, we identify the key drivers of outcomes in each country cluster by regression analysis, which include linear, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and logit models. We argue that differences in countries' performances can be traced back both to policy responses to COVID-19 and structural conditions, the latter being immutable over the pandemic. Three relevant structural conditions emerge from the results: trade reliance on services, corruption, and the size of the vulnerable population (elderly, low-income, smoking, or cardiovascular-failing). Policies such as large-scale open public testing and additional fiscal stimulus in non-health could help reduce excess mortality, which might lead to lower economic losses.

(2022). COVID-19 Mortality and Economic Losses: The Role of Policies and Structural Conditions [journal article - articolo]. In JOURNAL OF RISK AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10446/254449

COVID-19 Mortality and Economic Losses: The Role of Policies and Structural Conditions

Barbieri Goes, Maria Cristina;
2022-01-01

Abstract

The response of governments to the COVID-19 outbreak was foremost oriented to two objectives: saving lives and limiting economic losses. However, the effectiveness and success factors of interventions were unknown ex-ante. This study aims to shed light on the drivers of countries' performances during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We measure performances by excess mortality and GDP growth adjusted for additional fiscal stimulus. We conduct an empirical analysis in two stages: first, using hierarchical clustering, we partition countries based on their similarity in health and economic outcomes. Second, we identify the key drivers of outcomes in each country cluster by regression analysis, which include linear, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and logit models. We argue that differences in countries' performances can be traced back both to policy responses to COVID-19 and structural conditions, the latter being immutable over the pandemic. Three relevant structural conditions emerge from the results: trade reliance on services, corruption, and the size of the vulnerable population (elderly, low-income, smoking, or cardiovascular-failing). Policies such as large-scale open public testing and additional fiscal stimulus in non-health could help reduce excess mortality, which might lead to lower economic losses.
articolo
2022
Wang, Weichen; Gurgone, Andrea; Martinez, Humberto; BARBIERI GOES, Maria Cristina; Gallo, Ettore; Kerenyi, Ádam; Turco, Enrico Maria; Coburger, Carla;...espandi
(2022). COVID-19 Mortality and Economic Losses: The Role of Policies and Structural Conditions [journal article - articolo]. In JOURNAL OF RISK AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10446/254449
File allegato/i alla scheda:
File Dimensione del file Formato  
jrfm-15-00354-v2-4.pdf

accesso aperto

Versione: publisher's version - versione editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione del file 513.36 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
513.36 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Aisberg ©2008 Servizi bibliotecari, Università degli studi di Bergamo | Terms of use/Condizioni di utilizzo

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10446/254449
Citazioni
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
social impact