Publication
Title
Covid-19 vs. Ebola : impact on households and small businesses in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Author
Abstract
In April 2020, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was facing two major infectious disease outbreaks: Covid-19 and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). We highlight large differences in the socioeconomic impact of these two outbreaks. The data come from a phone survey that we conducted in the period May-July 2020 with 637 households and 363 small firms from a megacity and two rural communes in the province of North Kivu. While 3,470 EVD cases and 2,287 EVD deaths were confirmed since August 2018, self- reported impacts of EVD on revenues, access to food and behavior were limited. In contrast, only 251 Covid-19 cases were reported as of July 22nd but respondents reported sizable effects on livelihoods, especially in the large urban hub, and in part driven by substantial job losses. Our results show that different infectious disease outbreaks can have very different effects, largely unrelated to case numbers of the disease. Moderately lethal but highly transmissible viruses such as Covid-19 can trigger a steep economic downturn, especially in areas with high economic interconnectedness, reflecting both national and international policies to contain the pandemic.
Language
English
Source (journal)
World development. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2021
ISSN
0305-750X
DOI
10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2020.105352
Volume/pages
140 (2021) , p. 1-7
Article Reference
105352
ISI
000620649900005
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
The multidimensional impact of rural and urban electrification: economic development, security and conservation? Evidence from Eastern Congo.
The multidimensional impact of rural and urban electrification: economic development, security and conservation? Evidence from Eastern Congo.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 17.12.2020
Last edited 13.11.2024
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