Pollution, Global Diseases, Government, and Inequality

Abstract

Minorities and poor people have higher rates of mortality due to various causes of deaths. Part of this phenomenon is due their higher exposure to unhealthy environments. In this paper we show that the onset of Covid-19 was associated with higher death rates among the disadvantaged population. Specifically, we document that the environmental air quality can affect the spread of the novel coronavirus and that this effect is more pronounced in low-income neighborhoods and for counties with lower average education and higher share of blacks. The fact that environment is more impactful among the disadvantaged population calls for policies that protect the poor and minorities during a global disease.