A gravity model approach to understand the spread of pandemics: Evidence from the COVID-19 outbreak

Frimpong Albert Opoku; Arhin Kwadwo; Boachie Micheal Kofi; Acheampong Kwame

doi:10.1515/ohe-2022-0032

Open Health (May 2023)

A gravity model approach to understand the spread of pandemics: Evidence from the COVID-19 outbreak

Frimpong Albert Opoku,
Arhin Kwadwo,
Boachie Micheal Kofi,
Acheampong Kwame

Affiliations

Frimpong Albert Opoku: Department of Banking and Finance, University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana
Arhin Kwadwo: Department of Economics, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana
Boachie Micheal Kofi: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban 4001, South Africa
Acheampong Kwame: Department of Accounting Studies Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohe-2022-0032
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 16353 – 3

Abstract

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Pandemics disrupt the global economy. Understanding the transmission pattern of pandemics informs policies to prevent or reduce the catastrophic consequences associated with pandemics. In this study, we applied the gravity model of trade to investigate the transmission pattern of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across countries. The results suggest an outbreak in a country is likely to spread faster (slower) from a shrinking (booming) economy to a booming (shrinking) economy.

Published in Open Health

ISSN: 2544-9826 (Online)
Publisher: De Gruyter
Country of publisher: Poland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/ohe/html#overview

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