Mobility in times of pandemics: Evidence on the spread of COVID19 in Italy's labour market areas

We investigate the interplay between the local spread of COVID-19 and patterns of individual mobility within and across self-contained geographical areas. Conceptually, we connect the debate on regional development in the presence of shocks with the literature on spatial labour markets and address some research questions about the role of individual mobility in affecting the spread of the disease. By looking at granular flows of Facebook users moving within and across Italian labour market areas (LMAs), we analyse whether their heterogeneous internal and external mobility has had a significant impact on excess mortality. We also explore how individual mobility plays different roles in LMAs hosting industrial districts – characterised by a thicker local labour market and denser business and social interactions – and with a high presence of “essential sectors” - activities not affected by the COVID-19 containment measures taken by the Italian government at the onset of the crisis.