Projects

1.  "The Implications of Trust on the Spread of COVID-19 in Europe" Despina Gavresi, Anastasia Litina and Sofia Tsitou, R&R at the Journal of Economics and Human Biology , draft 

Abstract: This paper explores the interplay between two dimensions of trust i.e., political and interpersonal trust, and the spread of COVID-19 measured by the excess mortality rate in Nuts 1 European regions. To undertake our analysis we combine sub-national (Nuts 1 regions) data for trust from nine consecutive rounds of the European Social Survey and data on excess mortality due to COVID-19 spread, derived from the Eurostat. Exploiting regional variation, we empirically establish that in places with a higher degree of political and interpersonal trust, the excess mortality associated with the spread of COVID-19 is lower. Our underlying hypothesis is that due to the higher levels of trust, individuals tend to comply more with the policies promoted by national governments, thereby diminishing the COVID-19 spread and mortality rates in societies. 

2.  "The Role of Gender and Family Norms on the COVID-19 Spread in Europe" Despina Gavresi, Anastasia Litina, Georgios Mavropoulos and Sofia Tsitou, draft

Abstract: This paper explores the interplay between social norms i.e., attitudes on gender equality and strength of family ties, and the spread of COVID-19 measured by the excess mortality rate in Nuts 1 European regions. To undertake our analysis we combine sub-national (NUTS 1 regions) data for the social norms from the Integrated Values Survey (IVS) from 1981 to 2019 and the spread of COVID-19 measured by the excess mortality rate in Nuts 1 European regions in 2020 and 2021. Exploiting regional variation, we empirically establish that in regions with norms favoring gender equality, the excess mortality associated with the spread of COVID-19 is lower. Our hypothesized underlying mechanism is that women respect social distancing more thereby, in a country where they have a high social status, urge their families to do the same thus diminishing the virus diffusion. On the other hand, regions with stronger family ties are associated with a higher COVID-19 excess mortality rate, hinting to the higher involvement of the elderly in family affairs. 

3. "The Implications of Religion on the Spread of COVID-19 across European Regions", Despina Gavresi, Anastasia Litina and Sofia Tsitou, invited to the Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population, draft

Abstract: This paper explores the interplay between religious denomination, the degree of religiosity, and the spread of COVID-19 in European regions. To undertake our analysis we combine sub-national (NUTS 1) regional data for religion and religiosity proxies from the Integrated Values Survey (IVS) and data on COVID-19 measures, coming from the COVID-19 European Regional Tracker. Exploiting regional variation, we empirically establish that in regions with a higher degree of religiosity, the COVID-19 spread is even higher. As a result, it is evident, that both religious denomination and the degree of religiosity played a specific role in the spread of the virus as well as in the successful or not implementation of the lockdown measures.