|
|||||
|
|
The Distribution of Infectious Diseases and Extrinsic Mortality Across Countries |
|
| Authors: | MATTEO CERVELLATI UWE SUNDE SIMONA VALMORI |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Economics , University of Bologna , Italy;2. IZA , Bonn , Germany m.cervellati@unibo.it;4. Swiss Institute for Empirical Research, University of St. Gallen , Switzerland;5. IZA , Bonn , Germany;6. CEPR , London , England;7. Department of Economics , University of Bologna , Italy |
| Abstract: | Analysis of the spatial distribution and geographical determinants of human infectious agents across countries suggests that the total number of multi-host vector-transmitted diseases provides a useful measure of the mortality environment. Pathogens of this type are difficult to eradicate because they multiply in both humans and non-human hosts and are bound to specific climatological conditions. The count index of multi-host vector-transmitted diseases that are endemic in a country is a good proxy of life expectancy and of the likelihood of epidemics. This count is useful for cross-country empirical comparisons because it is not driven by demographic and economic conditions. |
| Keywords: | endemic diseases epidemics extrinsic mortality environment life expectancy multi-host vector-transmitted pathogens |