Influence of Economic and Political Variables on the Mortality Rate per Covid-19

Abstract

Purpose: The global pandemic caused by Covid-19 has caused millions of infected and dead people around the world, generating an unprecedented crisis, and affecting the economy of all countries. The aim of this work is to analyze whether some of the most influential and determining variables of the economic level and welfare of a country, such as GDP, HDI or public debt, have a significant influence on the coronavirus mortality rate in the countries most affected by the pandemic. It is also examined whether the level of policies adopted as measured by the Government Response Stringency Index influences this rate. Design/Methodology/Approach: The countries with the highest number of Covid-19 cases at the beginning of the year 2021 were taken into account and the variables to be analyzed for these countries were obtained from different databases. A multiple regression was performed to determine whether the variables mentioned above have an influence on the mortality rate due to Covid-19. Findings: The results obtained show that GDP per capita has a positive influence and that lower public debt (expressed as a percentage of GDP) can contribute to reducing the number of deaths. In addition, the level of policies adopted by countries has a significant influence. The more restrictive these policies are, the lower the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. This demonstrates the effectiveness of certain measures such as school closures or border closures. Practical Implications: the article provides recommendations on politics and Covid-19. It will be necessary to continue in this line of measures and propose a series of policies, such as mobility restrictions, perimeter confinements or mandatory teleworking or online teaching, to reduce the total number of deaths due to coronavirus and start economic reconstruction. Originality/Value: Significant findings on economic and political variables affecting Covid-19 mortality have been found.