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Has the COVID-19 pandemic converged across countries?

Author

Listed:
  • Sefa Awaworyi Churchill

    (RMIT University
    PIIRS, Princeton University)

  • John Inekwe

    (Macquarie University)

  • Kris Ivanovski

    (Monash University)

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 has induced economic and financial disruptions to global economies, consistent with those experienced during previous episodes of economic or financial crises. This study offers a critical perspective into the spread of the virus by investigating the convergence patterns of COVID-19 across 155 countries from March 2020 to August 2021. The club clustering algorithm is used to verify the convergence patterns of infection and death rates in these countries. The findings show that full panel convergence cannot be achieved indicating the presence of sub-convergent clusters. Cluster formation for death rates includes the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, among others. To understand the factors driving these results, we analyse the determinants of the convergence process of COVID-19. The probability of belonging to a cluster with higher death intensity increases with being above the age of 65, poverty, and for female smokers while handwashing shows beneficial effect on case intensity.

Suggested Citation

  • Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & John Inekwe & Kris Ivanovski, 2023. "Has the COVID-19 pandemic converged across countries?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(5), pages 2027-2052, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:64:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s00181-022-02319-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-022-02319-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Club convergence/clustering; Panel data; Determinants;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • F69 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Other

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