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Pandemics and socio-economic status. Evidence from the plague of 1630 in northern Italy

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  • Guido Alfani
  • Marco Bonetti
  • Mattia Fochesato

Abstract

This paper investigates the biological, socio-economic, and institutional factors shaping the individual risk of death during a major pre-industrial epidemic. We use a micro-demographic database for an Italian city (Carmagnola) during the 1630 plague to explore in detail the survival dynamics of the population admitted to the isolation hospital (lazzaretto). We develop a theoretical model of admissions to the lazzaretto, for better interpretation of the observational data. We explore how age and sex shaped the individual risk of death, and we provide a one-of-a-kind study of the impact of socio-economic status. We report an inversion of the normal mortality gradient by status for those interned at the lazzaretto. The rich enjoyed a greater ability to make decisions about their hospitalization, but this backfired. Instead, the poor sent to the lazzaretto faced a relatively low risk of death because they enjoyed better conditions than they would have experienced outside the hospital.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Alfani & Marco Bonetti & Mattia Fochesato, 2024. "Pandemics and socio-economic status. Evidence from the plague of 1630 in northern Italy," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(1), pages 21-42, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpstxx:v:78:y:2024:i:1:p:21-42
    DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2197412
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