Sweden and Norway in the management of a public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a failed "experiment" in public good provision without state coercion

Authors

Kristina Bell, Binghamton University--SUNYFollow

Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

1-2021

Keywords

COVID-19, public health, policy response, COVID testing, Sweden, Norway

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a major challenge for political incumbents to design and implement a public policy response to track and contain the virus. This essay compares the public health strategies of Norway and Sweden to examine the failure of the non-coercive strategy of the Swedish government in the initial months of the pandemic, which led to higher case fatality and death rates per 100,000 in a population. The findings of this study represent the tragedy of the commons in health when institutions allow for individually rational behavior amidst the effort to contain and control infection.

Recommended Citation

Bell, Kristina, "Sweden and Norway in the management of a public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a failed "experiment" in public good provision without state coercion" (2021). Working Papers Series. 8.
https://orb.binghamton.edu/working_paper_series/8