Political stability as a major determinant of the Covid-19 pandemic outcomes

Rui Gao; Hai-Hong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20617

Political stability as a major determinant of the Covid-19 pandemic outcomes

Heliyon. 2023 Oct 5;9(10):e20617. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20617. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Rui Gao¹, Hai-Hong Liu²

Affiliations

¹ School of Economics, Qingdao University, Kedazhi Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, China.
² School of Infectious Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Wenhuaxi Road, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.

Abstract

This paper explores the role of political stability in explaining the cross-country variation of Covid-19 pandemic outcomes. Based on the international evidence, we find that lower pre-Covid-19 levels of political stability are associated with worse Covid-19 pandemic outcomes. Politically unstable countries are more likely to suffered significantly higher morbidity and mortality. Further analysis shows that political stability only matters in countries prepared with requisite medical capacity to deal with health emergencies. We also find that political stability is more crucial in countries with higher poverty rates. Overall, to combat Covid-19 and the subsequential collective threats successfully, the national authorities should pay more attention to maintain political stability.

Keywords: Covid-19; Morbidity and mortality; Political stability.