A dichotomy between democracy and personal freedom on the spread of COVID-19

Purpose The authors analyze the effects of political freedom and personal on spread COVID-19 in a cross-country study. also investigate how income inequality, urbanization previous experience with similar respiratory epidemic/pandemic, such as SARS MERS, affect COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach employ data from 102 countries to examine relationship countries' economic sociopolitical factors, their infection cases per million population at 120 days, 150 days 180 after reported 10th case. include log term real GDP capita control for counties' development regional dummies regional-specific effects. Findings Results this study show that freedom, rather than democracy, has significant positive effect cases. On contrary, democracy negative impact rate. find socioeconomic factors higher inequality rate adversely A larger older is associated fewer cases, holding everything else equal. Previous experiences coronavirus crisis only mark. Real no effect. Originality/value main contribution paper jointly explore which implies social framework more emphasis self-value self-realization is, democracy. it contributes Democracy, other hand, reduces number Peer review peer history article available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2021-0769