Socioeconomic Conditioning of the Development of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Global Spatial Differentiation

Abstract

The COVID pandemic very quickly became the world's most serious social and economic problem. This paper's focus is on the spatial aspect of its spread, with the aims being to point to spatial conditioning underpinning development of the pandemic, and to identify and assess possible socio-economic features exerting an impact on that. Particular attention has been paid to the percentage of positive tests for the presence of the coronavirus, as well as mortality due to the disease it causes. The statistics used relate to 102 countries, with the research for each extending from the time first cases of COVID-19 were reported through to 18 November 2020. The focus of investigation has been the stochastic co-occurrence of both a morbidity index and a mortality index, with intentionally selected socio-economic variables. Results have then been summarized through the classification of countries in relation to the two indices. Highest values relate to Latin America. A significant co-occurrence of morbidity and mortality with GDP per capita has been identified, as values for the indices are found to be lower in wealthier countries. The basic conclusion is that the dependency of the pandemic on environmental and socio-economic conditioning became more complex and ambiguous, while also being displaced gradually as concrete political decisions came to be taken.

Keywords: COVID pandemic; correlation; country classification; geography of disease; socio-economic conditioning.

Figure 1

The matrix of classes accounting for both levels of infection with COVID-19 and mortality rates among those the pathogen infected identifies: A−, low-morbidity/low-mortality countries where COVID-19 is concerned; A0, low-morbidity/average-mortality countries; A+, low-morbidity/high-mortality countries, B−, average-morbidity/low-mortality countries; B0, average-morbidity/average-mortality countries; B+, average-morbidity/high-mortality countries, C−, high-morbidity/low-mortality countries; C0, high-morbidity/average-mortality countries; C+, high-morbidity/high-mortality countries..

Figure 2

The COVID-19 morbidity index ($W{c}_{i,j}$) in different countries, in the period from the first recorded case of the disease through to 18 November 2020. Source: authors’ own elaboration.

Figure 3

COVID-19 mortality index ($W{d}_{i,j}$) in different countries, in the period from the first recorded case of the disease through to 18 November 2020. Source: authors’ own elaboration.

Figure 4

The classification of countries by indices of both COVID-19 morbidity and mortality—in the period from the first reported cases of the disease through to 18 November 2020; A−, low-morbidity/low-mortality countries where COVID-19 is concerned; A0, low-morbidity/average-mortality countries; A+, low-morbidity/high-mortality countries, B−, average-morbidity/low-mortality countries; B0, average-morbidity/average-mortality countries; B+, average-morbidity/high-mortality countries, C−, high-morbidity/low-mortality countries; C0, high-morbidity/average-mortality countries; C+, high-morbidity/high-mortality countries. Source: authors’ own elaboration.