Welcome!

This site provides data analytics on the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of the World Bank country income classification – hence its handle “pandem-ic”.

As the epidemiological triad illustrates, pandemics are about viruses (the “external agents”), people (the “susceptible hosts”) and the broader environment that brings both together. The social sciences intersect most strongly with the people and environment dimensions of the triad and the lens of development directs attention to the variation in them.  

The income classification divides countries into buckets according to their per capita incomes. This approximation captures the level of development and correlates with a wide range of structural characteristics that affect infection prevalence, infection fatality risk and vaccination progress.   

One structural characteristic that closely relates with the income classification is demography. Given the age-discriminating nature of COVID-19, age structure and population size play a defining role in determining pandemic outcomes. They also greatly influence the needed solutions to this pandemic as we roll out vaccines globally.

A key purpose of this resource is to visualize the stark inequalities between high-income and developing countries and draw attention to the needs of the poorer parts of this interconnected world. In addition to data analytics, the site includes links to recent blogs and resources that have been published elsewhere. Note that this site reflects personal views. All errors and omissions are mine. 

Hope you find the content of interest and thank you for visiting!

Philip Schellekens