Impact of Social Capital and Cultural Values on COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, determined the largest pandemic of the last century. 73 states were analysed from the point of view of the number of infections and deaths caused by COVID-19, influenced by the income inequality of the citizens of a country (GINI), social capital, and uncertainty avoidance. Populations face disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality; inequalities consist of reduced access to health care, social mobility, or economic segregation (Oronce, et al., 2020). This study analyses the associations among the central aspects of social capital (trust in public institutions), income inequality (GINI index for income), national culture (level of uncertainty avoidance), and the SARS-CoV2 virus infection rate in 73 countries included in different time waves of the World Values Survey 2017-2020 (WVS) (Elgar et al., 2020). We performed the statistical analysis with the help of the Stata statistical program, and we used country level variables. The results of the study show that the income inequality of the citizens of a country (GINI), and uncertainty avoidance at the societal level influence the increase of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. On the other hand, the higher the trust in public institutions (social capital), the lower the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. This research considers the variables related to social capital, as well as characteristics of the national culture, which may explain the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. The results contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon at international level, and help the political authorities in formulating social solutions to this crisis.