The (Structural) Gravity of Epidemics
- Author(s)
- Alejandro Cunat, Robert Zymek
- Abstract
Epidemiological models assume gravity-like interactions of individuals across space without microfoundations. We combine a simple epidemiological framework with a dynamic model of individual location choice. The model predicts that flows of people across space obey a structural gravity equation. By means of an application to data from Great Britain we show that our structural-gravity framework: provides a rationale for quarantines; offers a clear mapping from observed geography to the spread of a disease; and makes it possible to evaluate the welfare impact of (expected and unexpected) mobility restrictions in the face of a deadly epidemic.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Economics
- External organisation(s)
- University of Edinburgh
- Journal
- European Economic Review
- Volume
- 144
- ISSN
- 0014-2921
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104082
- Publication date
- 05-2022
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 502053 Economics
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics and Econometrics, Finance
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-structural-gravity-of-epidemics(af43c3d2-af96-4aaa-a2f3-2f71f0fa75d1).html