Demographic inequalities as determinants and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia
Date
2021
Authors
Krumins, Juris
Dahs, Aleksandrs
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Latvia
Abstract
Since early March 2020 Latvia is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned from this crisis will be instrumental in shaping
future public health policy. Any policy response to the pandemic must be tailored to the particular risks within population in order to avoid the
unnecessary social and economic damage on a national and international scale. Available literature on the topic highlights region-specific
demographic factors associated with elevated population vulnerability to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to ascertain the
role of a pre-existing demographic inequalities in Latvia in the onset and progression of COVID-19 pandemic and lay groundwork for projecting
the impact of this pandemic on the demographic development of Latvia and its regions. Methods used in the study include literature review, as well
as statistical and spatial analysis of the identified demographic parameters. The study is concluded by a discussion on the future demographic effects
of the current pandemic. Data used in this study are obtained from Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia database and the information materials
published by National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Initial conclusions indicate that demographic disparities among regions and
municipalities make some of them more vulnerable to various effects of the pandemic. Economic stimulus measures implemented in response to
COVID-19 crisis may have a positive effect in limiting the damage inflicted by the crisis to the demographic situation in the country. However, this
positive effect may be mostly limited to the international migration processes.
Description
Keywords
demographic inequalities , demographic projections , coronavirus disease 2019 , life transitions , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES