Interventions with Positive Side-Effects: COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and Infectious Diseases in Europe

Arbeitspapier

To assess the efficacy of Covid-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on infectious disease containment in Europe, we first use weekly 2015-20 data on the spread of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to compare the 2019-20 season of these diseases with the previous five. Although the magnitude of results differs between countries, we document much stronger end-of-season declines in infections in the most recent outbreak than in the earlier ones, implying that they may be driven by NPIs implemented in 2020 to combat Covid-19. To test this conjecture, we use detailed country-specific weekly information on Covid-19 NPIs to estimate several panel models that relate NPI implementation to disease incidence across countries. Not only do certain measures significantly reduce the spread of Covid-19, they also curtail the spread of influenza and RSV. Nonetheless, although we identify workplace closures as a particularly effective measure, we find no evidence for the efficacy of other NPIs such as travel restrictions.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 13927

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: General ; Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies ; Crisis Management ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
• Subject: non-pharmaceutical interventions ; infectious diseases ; Europe ; COVID-19

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kaiser, Micha ; Otterbach, Steffen ; Sousa-Poza, Alfonso ; Bloom, David E.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/232679
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET