Do differences in national culture and political leadership explain heterogenous cross-country COVID-19 pandemic outcomes?

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2021-11-25
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en
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Abstract: In this thesis, I explore the effect of culture and national leadership on the heterogeneous COVID-19 pandemic performances, measured by excess mortality, across OECD countries. These differences are analysed and tested through machine learning, with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). While LASSO finds relevant coefficients for all five hypothesis variables, only two (power distance and the democracy index) are also relevant in both the robustness checks. Individualism and having a female head of government are relevant in one of the robustness checks and uncertainty avoidance is relevant in none. I offer several explanations for these findings including some limitations. Countries should take these cultural and political factors into account when considering policy responses aimed at constricting the pandemic growth. Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, social distancing, culture, democracy, national leadership, machine learning, lasso
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen