The Need for Reliable and Timely Data to Contrast COVID-19: What Went Wrong?

21 Pages Posted: 24 Sep 2020 Last revised: 11 Nov 2020

See all articles by Angelo Moretti

Angelo Moretti

Utrecht University - Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Caterina Santi

University of Liège - HEC Liège

Date Written: June 23, 2020

Abstract

In this article, we aim to stress that the fight of COVID-19 needs clear and timely data collection plans. Without data to support decisions, we can only hope for a fortunate guess. We need synergies between different research communities, policy-makers, Official Statistics, health institutions, and private companies which may provide non-conventional source of data. After having discussed policies and data collection initiatives in several European countries, we argue that on the one hand policy decisions are often not driven by the data. On the other hand, data collection either does not occur in a timely manner or it does not enable researchers to generalise the sample results to the entire population.

Note: Funding: None to declare

Declaration of Interest: None to declare

Keywords: Coronavirus, Social-distancing Policies, Inference, Survey Sampling, Health, Geography, SARS

JEL Classification: C83, I10, I12, I19

Suggested Citation

Moretti, Angelo and Santi, Caterina, The Need for Reliable and Timely Data to Contrast COVID-19: What Went Wrong? (June 23, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3633827 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3633827

Angelo Moretti

Utrecht University - Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences ( email )

Heidelberglaan 8
Utrecht, 3584
Netherlands

Caterina Santi (Contact Author)

University of Liège - HEC Liège ( email )

Rue Louvrex 14
Liège, 4000
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.caterinasanti.com

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