Public Support for European Cooperation in the Procurement, Stockpiling and Distribution of Medicines

7 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2024

See all articles by Roel M. W. J. Beetsma

Roel M. W. J. Beetsma

University of Amsterdam - Research Institute in Economics & Econometrics (RESAM); European Commission; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); Tinbergen Institute; Netspar

Brian Burgoon

University of Amsterdam

Francesco Nicoli

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)

A. de Ruijter

University of Amsterdam - Law Centre for Health and Life

Frank Vandenbroucke

University of Amsterdam

Date Written: January 17, 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has heightened ongoing political debate about the international joint procurement of medicines and medical countermeasures. The European Union (EU) has developed what remains largely contractual and decentralized international procurement cooperation. The corona crisis has broadened and deepened public debate on such cooperation, in particular on the scope of cooperation, solidarity in the allocation of such cooperation, and delegation of cooperative decision-making. Crucial to political debate about these issues are public attitudes that constrain and undergird international cooperation. Methods: Our survey includes a randomized survey experiment (conjoint analysis) on a representative sample in five European countries in March 2020, informed by legal and policy debate on medical cooperation. Respondents choose and rate policy packages containing randomized mixes of policy attributes with respect to the scope of medicines covered, the solidarity in conferring priority access and the level of delegation. Results: In all country populations surveyed, the experiment reveals considerable popular support for European cooperation. Significant majorities preferred cooperation packages with greater rather than less scope of medicines regulated; with priority given to most inneed countries; and with delegation to EU-level rather than national expertise. Conclusion: Joint procurement raises delicate questions with regard to its scope, the inclusion of cross-border solidarity and the delegation of decision-making, that explain reluctance toward joint procurement among political decision-makers. This research shows that there is considerable public support across different countries in favor of centralization, i.e. a large scope and solidarity in the allocation and delegation of decision-making.

Keywords: decision making, disease outbreaks, european union, international cooperation, public opinion, principles of law and justice, medical countermeasures, covid-19

JEL Classification: K33, K32

Suggested Citation

Beetsma, Roel M. W. J. and Burgoon, Brian and Nicoli, Francesco and de Ruijter, Anniek and Vandenbroucke, Frank, Public Support for European Cooperation in the Procurement, Stockpiling and Distribution of Medicines (January 17, 2021). European Journal of Public Health, volume 31, issue 2, 2021 [10.1093/eurpub/ckaa201], Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2021-42, Law Centre for Health and Life Research Paper No. 2021-01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4911898

Roel M. W. J. Beetsma

University of Amsterdam - Research Institute in Economics & Econometrics (RESAM) ( email )

P.O.Box 15867
Amsterdam
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European Commission ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

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Tinbergen Institute ( email )

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Netspar ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
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Brian Burgoon

University of Amsterdam ( email )

Spui 21
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

Francesco Nicoli

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) ( email )

Amsterdam Roeterseilandcampus
Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
Amsterdam, 1018 WV
Netherlands

Anniek De Ruijter (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Law Centre for Health and Life ( email )

Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
Amsterdam, 1018 WV
Netherlands

Frank Vandenbroucke

University of Amsterdam ( email )

Spui 21
Amsterdam, 1012 WX
Netherlands
+31 (0)20 525 6037 (Phone)

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