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Economic freedom, pandemics, and robust political economy

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  • Rosolino A. Candela
  • Vincent Geloso

Abstract

What is the relationship, if any, between economic freedom and pandemics? This paper addresses this question from a robust political economy approach. As is the case with recovery from natural disasters or warfare, a society that is relatively free economically offers economic actors greater flexibility to adapt to pandemics. We argue that societies that are more economically free will be more robust to the impact from pandemics, illustrated by shorter time for economic recovery. We illustrate this relationship by testing how initial levels of economic freedom (at the start of the major influenza pandemics of the 20th century) temper contractions and accelerate recoveries for 20 OECD countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosolino A. Candela & Vincent Geloso, 2021. "Economic freedom, pandemics, and robust political economy," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1250-1266, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:87:y:2021:i:4:p:1250-1266
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12489
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    Cited by:

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    2. Muhammet Deveci & Raghunathan Krishankumar & Ilgin Gokasar & Rumeysa Tuna Deveci, 2023. "Prioritization of healthcare systems during pandemics using Cronbach’s measure based fuzzy WASPAS approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 328(1), pages 279-307, September.
    3. Raymond J. March, 2021. "The FDA and the COVID‐19: A political economy perspective," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1210-1228, April.
    4. Sezer Yasar & Ceyhun Elgin, 2024. "Democracy and fiscal-policy response to COVID-19," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 198(1), pages 25-45, January.
    5. Virgil Henry Storr & Stefanie Haeffele & Jordan K. Lofthouse & Laura E. Grube, 2021. "Essential or not? Knowledge problems and COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home orders," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1229-1249, April.
    6. Marson, Marta & Migheli, Matteo & Saccone, Donatella, 2023. "Free to die: Economic freedoms and influenza mortality," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    7. Justin T. Callais & Jamie Bologna Pavlik, 2023. "Does economic freedom lighten the blow? Evidence from the great recession in the United States," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 357-398, September.
    8. Vincent Geloso & Kelly Hyde & Ilia Murtazashvili, 2022. "Pandemics, economic freedom, and institutional trade-offs," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 37-61, August.
    9. Pierre L. Siklos, 2022. "Did the great influenza of 1918–1920 trigger a reversal of the first era of globalization?," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 459-490, July.
    10. Art Carden, 2023. "Economic planning must be polycentric, not monocentric: Introduction to a symposium on Mises and Hayek on socialism and knowledge," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(3), pages 647-656, January.
    11. Vytautas Kuokštis & Ringailė Kuokštytė, 2023. "How Institutions Moderated the Pandemic's Economic Impact in EU Member States," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(2), pages 503-525, March.
    12. Peter Boettke & Benjamin Powell, 2021. "The political economy of the COVID‐19 pandemic," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1090-1106, April.
    13. Glenn L. Furton, 2023. "The pox of politics: Troesken’s tradeoff reexamined," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 195(1), pages 169-191, April.

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