Markus Ludwig

Dynamics of Coronavirus Diffusion

In a recent working paper, Markus Ludwig (jointly with Matthias Flückiger) investigates whether spatial networks that successfully capture the intensity of cross-regional interaction with multiple existing – and potentially changing – hotspots are informative about the spatio-temporal transmission dynamics of Covid-19. Using district-level panel data from Germany that cover the first 22 weeks of 2020, the paper finds that mobility, commuter and social networks all predict the spatio-temporal propagation of the epidemic.

In his research Mr. Ludwig uses econometric methods to address research questions related to development and health economics, international and interregional integration as well as climate economics. During his visit at CESifo, Mr. Ludwig will work on research related to spatial networks and their influence on the diffusion of social movements as well as on the effect of heat on child health in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Markus Ludwig is Professor of Economics, especially Empirical Economics and Econometrics at the TU Braunschweig. Before joining the TU Braunschweig in 2019, Mr. Ludwig was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bayreuth and at the University of Basel where he also received his PhD in 2014. He holds an MA in International Economics from the University of Göttingen and a Diplom (FH) Volkswirt from Nürtingen-Geislingen University.