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Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Change Human Mobility Equally Worldwide? Cross-Country Cluster Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Katarzyna Czech

    (Department of Econometrics and Statistics, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Anna Davy

    (My Data Lab, 05-816 Michałowice, Poland)

  • Michał Wielechowski

    (Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

The paper aims to identify groups of countries characterised by a similar human mobility reaction to COVID-19 and investigate whether the differences between distinguished clusters result from the stringency of government anti-COVID-19 policy or are linked to another macroeconomic factor. We study how COVID-19 affects human mobility patterns, employing daily data of 124 countries. The analysis is conducted for the first and second waves of the novel coronavirus pandemic separately. We group the countries into four clusters in terms of stringency level of government anti-COVID-19 policy and six mobility categories, using k-means clustering. Moreover, by applying the Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank-sum pairwise comparison test, we assess the existence of significant differences between the distinguished clusters. We confirm that the pandemic has caused significant human mobility changes. The study shows that a more stringent anti-COVID-19 policy is related to the greater decline in mobility. Moreover, we reveal that COVID-19-driven mobility changes are also triggered by other factors not related to the pandemic. We find the Human Development Index (HDI) and its components as driving factors of the magnitude of mobility changes during COVID-19. The greater human mobility reaction to COVID-19 refers to the country groups representing higher HDI levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarzyna Czech & Anna Davy & Michał Wielechowski, 2021. "Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Change Human Mobility Equally Worldwide? Cross-Country Cluster Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:9:y:2021:i:4:p:182-:d:681125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ratih Oktri Nanda & Aldilas Achmad Nursetyo & Aditya Lia Ramadona & Muhammad Ali Imron & Anis Fuad & Althaf Setyawan & Riris Andono Ahmad, 2022. "Community Mobility and COVID-19 Dynamics in Jakarta, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Veronika Harantová & Jaroslav Mazanec & Vladimíra Štefancová & Jaroslav Mašek & Hana Brůhová Foltýnová, 2023. "Two-Step Cluster Analysis of Passenger Mobility Segmentation during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Štefancová Vladimíra & Mašek Jaroslav & Harantová Veronika & Mazanec Jaroslav & Foltýnová Hana Brůhová, 2023. "Analysis of Passenger Behaviour During the Covid-19 Pandemic Situation," LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 203-214, January.
    4. Andree Ehlert & Jan Wedemeier, 2022. "Which factors influence mobility change during COVID‐19 in Germany? Evidence from German county data," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S1), pages 61-79, November.

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