Understanding how socioeconomic inequalities drive inequalities in COVID-19 infections

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected economically disadvantaged groups. This differential impact has numerous possible explanations, each with significantly different policy implications. We examine, for the first time in a low- or middle-income country, which mechanisms best explain the disproportionate impact of the virus on the poor. Combining an epidemiological model with rich data from Bogota, Colombia, we show that total infections and inequalities in infections are largely driven by inequalities in the ability to work remotely and in within-home secondary attack rates. Inequalities in isolation behavior are less important but non-negligible, while access to testing and contract-tracing plays practically no role because it is too slow to contain the virus. Interventions that mitigate transmission are often more effective when targeted on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected economically disadvantaged groups. Inequalities in remote working capabilities and within-home secondary attack rates are the main drivers of total infections and inequalities in infections. Inequalities in isolation behavior are less important but still significant, while access to testing and contract-tracing plays no significant role in containing the virus. Interventions targeting socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are often more effective in mitigating transmission.