Does bond market development impact the flight-to-quality from stock to bond during COVID-19?

Abstract

This paper analyzed flight to quality effect from stocks to government bonds in 46 countries including developed and emerging countries during COVID pandemic. The empirical result from panel data framework shows that the flights exist and government bonds remain offered diversification benefit to investors when they are most needed. The negative stock-bond correlation was also amplified when pandemic is more severe in developed countries. Moreover, this study reveals that countries with a higher degree of bond market development can support bonds act as a safe haven better and have more negative in stock-bond correlation.