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Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the...
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Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "International Relations".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 17592

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Juan Carlos Martin Hernandez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Tourism and Economic Sustainable Development, Department of Applied Economic Analysis, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: transport economics; accessibility; service quality; tourism and transport; demand analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaping citizen trust in institutions at different jurisdictions, from the local to the regional, national, and supranational. The disease caused by the coronavirus has put stress on national healthcare systems globally and has fundamentally changed every aspect of our lives compared to pre-pandemic times. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global emergency on 30 January 30 2020, and the “flatten the curve” measure was highlighted as the main policy to prevent healthcare system collapse. Thus, national governments were obliged to close their borders, restrict travel, and control economic activity not deemed essential. Unavoidably, in 2020 the world faced an unparalleled economic crisis and recession, which harmed the poor and vulnerable the most. The fight against extreme poverty suffered the first reversal after decades of steady progress in reducing it (The World Bank, 2020).

Countries around the world imposed different measures to contain the pandemic, and unfamiliar concepts in the past such as lockdowns, mask mandates, social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, and wash your hands more frequently have become part of our common vocabulary. The containment of the pandemic spread is still a challenge to many countries that are facing a second or third wave, and the trade-off between health and the economy seems to be unresolved. COVID-19 affected citizens' lives very differently. In cases where citizens knew someone who died because of the disease or were very concerned about their health or the health of a closed relative, they might see that the benefits associated with the control of deaths outweigh the economic loss associated with the more restrictive measures. Similarly, personal positions around being in favor of limiting individual rights or civil liberties, as well as the use of tracking apps to control the potential spread to citizens who have been in contact with the virus can determine the support or not to some of the measures taken by national or regional governments. Jurisdictions of the states or the regions vs. nations or supranational entities, such as the EU, regarding the role of governance to control the spread of the pandemic is also an interesting factor to analyze.

Given the extraordinary period we are living, it is paramount that policy makers and social scientist can research how citizens and collective groups are responding to the pandemic. There are a number of topics within the social context that can be selected, as pandemic control measures require a significant change in social behavior that is affected by multiple factors, such as social norms, social inequality, culture, and polarization. The contributors to this volume will address the following research questions:

  1. What are the main anti-COVID measures taken by distinct countries? Are there any lessons that can be extracted?
  2. What are the main factors that affect citizen support towards the measures taken?
  3. Can the recovery plans alleviate the expected extreme poverty increases?
  4. Is the accelerated economic downturn diminishing institutional trust?
  5. How is the pandemic affecting the migratory crises? Are nations' residents changing their opinions and behaviors towards migrants?
  6. What can we learn from the current pandemic with respect to national health care systems?
  7. Can the public/private debate (neo-liberalism) polarize more the society?
  8. Do populist parties take advantage of the causes of the current pandemic?
  9. Does the pandemic increase EU skepticism, or, contrarily, can it be seen as a good opportunity for more federalist integration (more EU solutions to the crisis)? Can this be extended to other supra-national institutions like the WHO?
  10.  Do citizens have more distrust of democratic systems because of the political management of the crisis?
  11. Are social welfare policies in jeopardy? Are high-income citizens ready to pay more taxes?
  12.  Will citizens prefer more authoritarian or technocratic forms of government?
  13. Does the current pandemic change the industrial globalization process? Are western citizens prepared for medical and pharmaceutical supply shortages because most of the industry was externalized to developing countries like India and China?
  14. Can the hospitality and travel industry bounce back sooner than later if the vaccines are effective?
  15. What are the main social changes observed in citizens’ lives due more time being spent at home?
  16. Does the current pandemic foster e-health, working from home, e-commerce, and other e-services?
  17. Is there any gender issues exacerbated by the pandemic?
  18. Is the pandemic a good opportunity to include climate action in the recovery agenda to make the planet more sustainable?
  19. Which parts of the world are more vulnerable to reversals from democratic systems to authoritarian systems?
  20. So far, are citizens satisfied with the leadership, information, and transparency of the current governments? In terms of citizen participation, is there much room for social governance?

Prof. Dr. Juan Martín
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • national anti-COVID-19 measures
  • citizen support
  • COVID-19 and governance
  • COVID-19 and institutional trust
  • individual and collective behavior
  • political polarization
  • health benefits vs. economic damage
  • social inequality

Published Papers (6 papers)

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23 pages, 983 KiB  
Article
The Anticipated Use of Public Transport in the Post-Pandemic Era: Insights from an Academic Community in Thessaloniki, Greece
by Despoina Tsavdari, Vasileia Klimi, Georgios Georgiadis, Grigorios Fountas and Socrates Basbas
Soc. Sci. 2022, 11(9), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11090400 - 03 Sep 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
This paper investigates how the travel behavior relating to Public Transport (PT) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which are the expectations about the extent of PT use post-pandemic. A revealed preferences questionnaire survey was distributed within an academic community in the city [...] Read more.
This paper investigates how the travel behavior relating to Public Transport (PT) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which are the expectations about the extent of PT use post-pandemic. A revealed preferences questionnaire survey was distributed within an academic community in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. To understand the factors potentially determining the future PT use, hierarchical ordered probit and bivariate ordered probit models were estimated. Results showed that the frequent PT users reduced by almost 75% during the pandemic. More than 29% of the local academic community members are reluctant to resume PT use at pre-pandemic levels. Non-captive users, teleworkers and those being unsatisfied with cleanliness and safety are less willing to travelling by PT post-pandemic. Female and under-stress passengers were found to particularly appreciate the use of facemasks and the increased service frequencies as post-pandemic policy measures. The study findings can inform the recovery strategies of transport authorities in order to retain the PT ridership at levels that will not threat the long-term viability of service provision. Future research may complement these findings by examining other population segments, such as the commuters and the elderly, under more advanced modelling techniques to account for additional unobserved behavioral patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
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20 pages, 533 KiB  
Article
The Effects of COVID-19 on Family Climate: A Fuzzy Clustering Approach to Examine Spanish Households
by Juan Carlos Martín-Quintana, Juan Carlos Martín and Pedro F. Alemán
Soc. Sci. 2022, 11(6), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11060239 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
Spain was one of the countries in which more severe lockdown policies were imposed during the second term of 2020 to mitigate the unprecedented health crisis. The measures restricted citizens’ mobility, obliging families to stay confined at homes for 99 days since 15 [...] Read more.
Spain was one of the countries in which more severe lockdown policies were imposed during the second term of 2020 to mitigate the unprecedented health crisis. The measures restricted citizens’ mobility, obliging families to stay confined at homes for 99 days since 15 March 2020. The measures created a number of challenges that affect the family climate. This paper aims to empirically analyse how the family climate in Spain has been affected by COVID-19. The family climate assessment was based on an online questionnaire answered by 2034 citizens. A multi-criteria decision-making method rooted in fuzzy logic and TOPSIS, and a fuzzy clustering method, are applied to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 on the family climate. The fuzzy clustering method reveals that there are three different family climate profiles, namely (1) extreme positive, (2) extreme negative, and (3) intermediate. Our results show that some traits affect having a more or less positive family climate. The authors discuss the main contributions and the policy implications that could provide insights into future measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
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20 pages, 398 KiB  
Article
Responses to COVID-19 Social and Economic Impacts: A Comparative Analysis in Southern European Countries
by Inês Casquilho-Martins and Helena Belchior-Rocha
Soc. Sci. 2022, 11(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11020036 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3604
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected European societies. This new crisis arrived after a period of gradual recovery from the 2008 financial crisis that had jeopardized the achievement of Europe Strategy 2020 (ES2020) targets. The need to recover for the Southern European countries, which [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected European societies. This new crisis arrived after a period of gradual recovery from the 2008 financial crisis that had jeopardized the achievement of Europe Strategy 2020 (ES2020) targets. The need to recover for the Southern European countries, which had austerity programs during the financial crisis, is crucial to ensure a continuum of economic and social development. This study aims to analyze the impact of the two last international crises on the accomplishment of ES2020 goals and how the ‘NextGenerationEU’ program presents a mechanism to recover from the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts. We analyzed secondary statistical data from Eurostat and official European documents. Additionally, we carried out a systematic analysis of 162 measures of the recovery and resilience plan from Southern European countries (Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal). The results showed that ES2020 targets were at risk, particularly in the field of employment, combating poverty, and social exclusion. Currently, there is strong European investment in response to the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, with all countries defining measures adjusted to protect the most vulnerable groups. However, the implications of these responses require a political commitment for them to effectively contribute to sustainable recovery and development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
19 pages, 1501 KiB  
Article
The Employment Ecosystem of Bizkaia as an Emerging Common in the Face of the Impact of COVID-19
by Ekhi Atutxa, Iñigo Calvo-Sotomayor and Teresa Laespada
Soc. Sci. 2021, 10(11), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10110407 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2242
Abstract
In the context of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Bizkaia (Basque Country, Spain), and from the renewed Commons paradigm, this research analyzes the initial response given by the region’s employment ecosystem. Based on extensive quantitative and qualitative methods, it empirically explores the [...] Read more.
In the context of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Bizkaia (Basque Country, Spain), and from the renewed Commons paradigm, this research analyzes the initial response given by the region’s employment ecosystem. Based on extensive quantitative and qualitative methods, it empirically explores the catalytic role that local public and social entities could play in coordinating an organized and systemic response of the employment-related stakeholders to an external impact, such as the current pandemic. The study of databases specifically provided by the Public Administrations for this research, in combination with two survey processes conducted to the main agents of the ecosystem, led to a greater understanding of the benefits of an organized and systemic reaction. From the community identification of a priori unrecognized impacts by individual actors to the proposal of actions closely connected to their short and long-term needs, the article finally presents recommendations aimed at strengthening the resilience and collaboration of the collective action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
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14 pages, 841 KiB  
Article
Physical Health of Food Consumers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by José Oliveira, Tânia Santos, Marlene Sousa, João M. Lopes, Sofia Gomes and Márcio Oliveira
Soc. Sci. 2021, 10(6), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10060218 - 09 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3431
Abstract
The present research aims to analyze the habits observed in the perception of the general physical health condition of Portuguese food consumers in the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation is focused on indicators such as weight, physical activity, and consumption habits through the adoption [...] Read more.
The present research aims to analyze the habits observed in the perception of the general physical health condition of Portuguese food consumers in the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation is focused on indicators such as weight, physical activity, and consumption habits through the adoption of healthy and not healthy food. Centered on a quantitative approach, the research is based on the application of a questionnaire to a sample of 741 Portuguese consumers, between November 2020 and February 2021, a period during which the most severe measures of social isolation were imposed by the Portuguese government, since the beginning of the pandemic. Moreover, the questionnaire was applied to consumers over 18 years old. According to this population, and considering a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 4%, the sample has a minimum of 601 responses. Being so, the results of this research are representative for the Portuguese food consumers. The theoretical model was estimated using Partial Least Squares (PLS) in the Smart PLS 3.0 software. The obtained results allowed us to conclude that the Portuguese perception of their weight did not change in the pandemic, despite showing that in general, the pandemic had a negative impact on their physical condition. On the other hand, the results show that the Portuguese associate the practice of physical exercise with physical well-being. Respondents also confirm a positive relationship between “positive eating behaviors (such as consumption of fruits and vegetables, low saturated foods and rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats” and water consumption) and “the perception of physical health in general”. On the contrary, respondents’ perception of the choice of negative eating behaviors (measured by the consumption of products with a high content of salt and sugar, snacks, and processed frozen and pre-cooked foods) have a negative impact on the “assessment of physical health, in the COVID-19 pandemic”. Hence, it was concluded that the Portuguese consider that an eventual increase in weight does not necessarily correspond to a perception of worse physical health; the practice of physical exercise and good eating habits corresponds to a perception of better physical health; the adoption of bad eating habits corresponds to the perception of bad physical health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
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10 pages, 1326 KiB  
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Monetary Fiscal Contributions to Households and Pension Fund Withdrawals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Approximation of Their Impact on Construction Labor Supply in Chile
by Byron J. Idrovo-Aguirre and Javier E. Contreras-Reyes
Soc. Sci. 2021, 10(11), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10110417 - 02 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2714
Abstract
We show statistical evidence that pension fund withdrawals and the Emergency Family Income (EFI) increased the likelihood that a laid off construction worker would reject a proposal for a formal employment contract. This favors the hypothesis that pension fund withdrawals and government subsidies [...] Read more.
We show statistical evidence that pension fund withdrawals and the Emergency Family Income (EFI) increased the likelihood that a laid off construction worker would reject a proposal for a formal employment contract. This favors the hypothesis that pension fund withdrawals and government subsidies related to the health crisis have, to some extent, contributed to the shortage of formal labor in the construction sector. Based on estimations of the logit model, we found that rejection probability increased with work experience (approximated by the worker’s age). For example, the probability of not accepting a formal contract for a highly experienced worker, who withdrew funds from their mandatory private Pension Fund Administrator and received the EFI, increased by 28%. The figure is approximately 2.5 times the rejection probability of a worker with the same experience but without having received this additional income. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Policy Dynamics of COVID-19 in the EU and the Rest of the World: Challenges, Reactions, and Perspectives after One Year)
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