The Latest Update for 'COVID-19 Library. Filling the Gaps'

Abstract

The presented short paper contains follow-ups for the “COVID-19 Library. Filling the Gaps”. The library itself consists of numerous structured references to articles, papers, data, and books relevant to the current discussions regarding the COVID-19 crisis. The principal purposes of this collection are:

1. To fill partly the huge gaps in current discussions on COVID-19 – often based on never-proven assumptions like feasibility of effective suppression of respiratory infection by means of lockdowns.

2. To present and highlight some crucially important factors that had been discussed in the scientific literature for decades, but totally ignored by most governments in their decision making – for example, the very strong dependence of health on the economic situation.

We find astonishingly strong leaning of politicians and public healthcare officials to never-tested responses, potentially more dangerous than the disease itself. In our opinion, the special interests of decision-making groups may provide a partial explanation of this phenomenon.

The specific purpose of this short supplemental material is to provide the reader prompt update, or at least, more regular update on the key issues of the Library.

Keywords: health and wealth, Spanish flu, lockdown, compulsory mask-wearing, decision making, incentives, coercion, conflict of interest

JEL Classification: D72, D73, D74, D78, H51, I15, I18