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Hayek on complexity, uncertainty and pandemic response

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  • Mark Pennington

    (University of London)

Abstract

This paper draws on Hayek’s distinction between simple and complex phenomena to understand the nature of the challenge facing policymakers in responding to the new coronavirus pandemic. It shows that while government action is justifiable there may be few systemic mechanisms that enable policymakers to distinguish better from worse policy responses, or to make such distinctions in sufficient time. It then argues that this may be a more general characteristic of large-scale public policy making procedures and illustrates the importance of returning to a market-based political economy at the earliest convenience.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Pennington, 2021. "Hayek on complexity, uncertainty and pandemic response," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 34(2), pages 203-220, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revaec:v:34:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11138-020-00522-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11138-020-00522-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mark Pennington, 2023. "Foucault and Hayek on public health and the road to serfdom," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 195(1), pages 125-143, April.
    2. Giampaolo Garzarelli & Lyndal Keeton & Aldo A. Sitoe, 2022. "Rights redistribution and COVID-19 lockdown policy," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 5-36, August.
    3. Ilia Murtazashvili & Veeshan Rayamajhee & Keith Taylor, 2023. "The Tragedy of the Nurdles: Governing Global Externalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Darcy W. E. Allen & Chris Berg & Sinclair Davidson & Jason Potts, 2022. "On Coase and COVID-19," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 107-125, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hayek; Pandemics; Complexity; Uncertainty; Public policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B00 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - General - - - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches
    • B13 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Neoclassical through 1925 (Austrian, Marshallian, Walrasian, Wicksellian)
    • B25 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian; Stockholm School
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • B53 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Austrian

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