Published on 2 August 2021
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Place-based pathologies: economic complexity maps COVID-19 outcomes in UK local authorities

Study calls for the integration of public health and economic strategies in every locality across the UK when planning economic recovery in the context of aiming to reduce spatial inequalities.

Places with similar capabilities and economic structures tend to achieve similar rates of economic performance, but does this relationship also hold for health outcomes? The present study investigates the association between the economic complexity of local authorities in the UK and their Covid-19 morbidity and mortality rates.

We find that localities with a lower economic complexity index (ECI) registered significantly higher numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths, controlling for a range of confounders including age structure, ethnic population, obesity rate, community-level socio-economic status (i.e. deprivation level and housing price), and population density.

This result indicates that local economic structures in the UK shape people’s pandemic (and public health) experiences. This finding calls for the integration of public health and economic strategies in each locality when planning economic recovery in the context of aims to reduce spatial inequalities; health outcomes cannot be influenced independently of fundamental economic structures.  

Authors

Diane Coyle 2018

Professor Diane Coyle

Bennett Professor of Public Policy and Co-Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy

Professor Coyle co-directs the Institute with Professor Kenny. She is heading research under the progress and productivity themes. Biography Professor Dame Diane Coyle is the Bennett Professor of Public Policy...

Dr Esmaeil Khedmati Morasae

Esmaeil is a Research Fellow in Policy and Complex Systems at the University of Exeter Business School. His research covers issues related to the circular economy, public health, and inclusivity...

Dr Tahera Ebrahimi

Tahera is a lecturer at the Huddersfield University Business School. Her research covers issues related to the corporate finance, corporate governance, accounting, and economy.

Penny Mealy

Dr Penny Mealy

Penny is a Research Fellow, at SoDA Labs, Monash University. She was previously a Research Associate at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy. In collaboration with Diane Coyle, Penny’s work...

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