The Lesson of COVID-19 Pandemic for Democracy within Cultural Context

Abstract

Our paper intends to bring some explanations for the high level of spread of the COVID-19 disease, related to the democracy and culture nexus of nations. Our sample consists of worldwide countries affected by the spread of the new coronavirus disease and the paper uses data available to the date of our research for all the considered variables (on April 3rd, 2020). We find clear evidence that highly democratic countries have had a rather poor management of the COVID-19 proxies so far, migration being a favouring factor of the disease. Our estimations also prove that cultural dimensions impact the performance management of COVID-19: the individualistic cultural trait puts countries at risk, as opposed to the power distance cultural trait. Elder age groups weights of countries are directly related to nations’ confirmed cases and deaths. This study’s addressability is wide, from regular people to top policymakers, through their common goal of limiting this pandemic and all the negative effects it brings along.

Keywords: COVID-19 performance management, democracy, culture, health outcomes

JEL Classification: I15, J11, I18, Z19