Social Insurance, Welfare Codes, and the Spread of Covid-19

Tadashi Adino (University of Cyprus, Economic Research Center, University House, Anastasios G. Leventis 1 Panepistimiou Avenue 2109 Aglantzia, Nicosia P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus)
Moein Mirani Ahangar Kolaei (Instructor, University of Tehran, Faculty of Economics, Kargar Shomali Ave., Tehran, Iran and PhD Student, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave Tehran, Iran)
Eser Demir (Bogaziçi University, Department of Sociology, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey)
Tolga Constantinou (Bogaziçi University, Department of Sociology, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey)
Mostafa Toranji (University of Tehran, Faculty of Economics, Kargar Shomali Ave., Tehran, Iran)
Muhammad Ridwan (Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Indonesia)

Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial
Vol 8 No 1 (2021): Konfrontasi, March

This paper explores disparities in the effect of pollution on confirmed cases of Covid-19 based on counties’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Using data on all US counties on a daily basis over the year 2020 and applying a rich panel data fixed effect model, we document that: 1) there are discernible social and demographic disparities in the spread of Covid-19. Blacks, low educated, and poorer people are at higher risks of being infected by the new disease. 2) The criteria pollutants including Ozone, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 have the potential to accelerate the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. 3) The disadvantaged population is more vulnerable to the effects of pollution on the spread of coronavirus. Specifically, the effects of pollution on confirmed cases become larger for blacks, low educated, and counties with lower average wages in 2019.