There is widespread debate on the drivers of heterogeneity of adverse COVID-19 pandemic outcomes and, more specifically, on the role played by context-specific factors. We contribute to this literature by testing the role of environmental factors as measured by environmentally protected areas. We test our research hypothesis by showing that the difference between the number of daily deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in 2020 and the 2018-19 average during the pandemic period is significantly lower in Italian municipalities located in environmentally protected areas such as national parks, regional parks, or Environmentally Protected Zones. After controlling for fixed effects and various concurring factors, municipalities with higher share of environmentally protected areas show significantly lower mortality during the pandemic than municipalities that do not benefit from such environmental amenities.

Becchetti, L., Conzo, G., Conzo, P., Salustri, F. (2022). Excess mortality and protected areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Italian municipalities. HEALTH POLICY, 126(12), 1269-1276 [10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.10.005].

Excess mortality and protected areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Italian municipalities

Becchetti L.;Conzo G.;Salustri F.
2022-01-01

Abstract

There is widespread debate on the drivers of heterogeneity of adverse COVID-19 pandemic outcomes and, more specifically, on the role played by context-specific factors. We contribute to this literature by testing the role of environmental factors as measured by environmentally protected areas. We test our research hypothesis by showing that the difference between the number of daily deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in 2020 and the 2018-19 average during the pandemic period is significantly lower in Italian municipalities located in environmentally protected areas such as national parks, regional parks, or Environmentally Protected Zones. After controlling for fixed effects and various concurring factors, municipalities with higher share of environmentally protected areas show significantly lower mortality during the pandemic than municipalities that do not benefit from such environmental amenities.
2022
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore SECS-P/01
English
COVID-19
Mortality
Pollution
Protected areas
Becchetti, L., Conzo, G., Conzo, P., Salustri, F. (2022). Excess mortality and protected areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Italian municipalities. HEALTH POLICY, 126(12), 1269-1276 [10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.10.005].
Becchetti, L; Conzo, G; Conzo, P; Salustri, F
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/342243
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