Covid19 Deaths: Variation Across Countries
What determines deaths due to COVID in different countries? Our exploration into various exogenous determinants leads us to the importance of the same three determinants as in the case of infections — first, that higher temperatures mean lower deaths; second that countries with a higher aged male population (greater than 79 years) have a greater death vulnerability; and third, higher urbanization leads to more deaths. However, we find that access to health care facilities (as proxied by availability of hospital beds) does diminish the possibility of death from COVID.
Two puzzles (among many others!) remain unresolved. Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have zero deaths, while per capita deaths from COVID19 are lower in Australia than in a country which has rightfully received a lot of praise for its fight against COVID, namely New Zealand.