Is there a best way to respond to the next pandemic crisis? Evidence from national Covid-19 responses, 2020-2022

Nikolaos Zahariadis, Mertie Buckman Chair and Professor of International Studies, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN USA.

Chair: Åsa Knaggård

Abstract

Why do countries respond differently to the same crisis? Does democracy matter? Using four perspectives that stress policy capacity, trust, institutional factors, and political leadership, I assess the responses of four countries: China, Greece, USA, and Sweden. The evidence shows that there are many good responses that are culturally and politically appropriate to different countries. Democracy matters in the long run because it fosters trust in government experts and policies and inevitably prompts compliance with NPIs. NPIs work well, but they come with politico-economic consequences. Democratic political leadership is probably most important in coordinating crisis measures and ensuring an effective response. But it is not good at promoting recovery and building resilience.

Bio

Nikolaos Zahariadis is the Mertie Buckman Chair and Professor of International Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, USA. He researches comparative policymaking at the intersection of domestic and international affairs with substantive emphasis on European political economy. A native of Greece, he has thrice been a Fulbright Scholar in Germany, Italy, and Greece respectively, Policy Studies Organization Fellow, National Bank of Greece Senior Research Fellow, Economic and Social Research Council (UK) - Social Science Research Council (USA) Fellow, adjunct scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, visiting professor at Sciences-Po Grenoble, as well as chair of the public policy interest section of the European Union Studies Association, and thrice President of the International Studies Association-South. He loves travelling and tasting new foods in small and unassuming restaurants.

Read more on https://www.rhodes.edu/bio/nikolaos-zahariadis

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