Social Distancing and COVID-19: Some Evidence at the Municipality Level in Brazil

12 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2021

See all articles by Marcelo Resende

Marcelo Resende

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Mateus Maciel

University of Tübingen; Research School of International Taxation (RSIT)

Date Written: July 6, 2021

Abstract

The paper aims at investigating the effects of social distancing on the number of cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19. A detailed dataset includes more precise measures of the social distancing intensity in 78 municipalities from the state of São Paulo-Brazil that allowed the assessment of the impact on infections and deaths. Controlling for the labor market dynamics, medical infrastructure, and government transfers, we were able to improve our estimates. The evidence indicates that an increase by 1 % on the current social distancing level reduces the number of infections by 4.14 % 7 days later, and by 2.8 % the number of deaths 14 days later.

Note: Funding: The authors stated that the present work did not receive funding.

Declaration of Interests: All authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Keywords: social distancing, COVID-19, Brazil

JEL Classification: H75, I10, I18

Suggested Citation

Resende, Marcelo and Maciel, Mateus, Social Distancing and COVID-19: Some Evidence at the Municipality Level in Brazil (July 6, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3881417 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3881417

Marcelo Resende

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) ( email )

Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524
Instituto de Economia
Rio de Janeiro RJ 21949
Brazil

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Mateus Maciel (Contact Author)

University of Tübingen ( email )

Mohlstrasse 36
Germany

Research School of International Taxation (RSIT) ( email )

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