The benefits of remoteness – digital mobility data, regional road infrastructure, and COVID-19 infections

Abstract We investigate the regional distribution of COVID-19 outbreak in Germany. use a novel digital mobility dataset, that traces undertaken trips on Easter Sunday 2020 and instrument them with accessibility as measured by road infrastructure Germany’s 401 NUTS III regions. identify robust negative association between number infected cases per capita average travel time roads to next major urban center. What has been hinderance for economic performance good times, appears be benevolent factor pandemic: bad infrastructure. Using an reductions we assess causal effect infections. The study shows keeping people low is main reduce Aggregating over all regions, our results suggest there would have about 55,600 infections less May 5th, 2020, if at onset disease were 10 percent lower.