Covid-19 Pandemic: Problems Arising in Health and Social Policy

Foreword by Alan Walker
Foreword by Joe C. B. Leung
Contents
Contributors
Part I Introductory and Overarching Theory Part
1 Introduction: The New Age of Zombie Politics
	References
2 The Human Face of the Pandemic
	On the Causal Relationship Between Inequality and Systemic Poverty
	Policymaking for Survival and Dignity
	Attacking Global Human Dignity: The Appalling Rise of Inequality Across the Globe
	Policymaking and Its Comparative Performance During the Pandemic
	General Conclusions and Takeaways
	Appendix: Aggregate Country Performances During the Early Phase of Covid-19 Pandemic: Using Aspalter’s SRP Index
	References
Part II Theme Chapters on Social Problems Raised by the Pandemic
3 Socio-economic and Geographic Inequality of the Effects of the Pandemic
	Introduction
	The United States as Outlier in Both Covid-Related Mortality and Economic Inequality
		The Impact of the Pandemic
		Geographic Sorting
		Economic Inequality
	The Pandemic’s Differential Effects on Workers
	Political Polarization
	Summing Up
	Notes
	References
4 The Covid-19 Pandemic and “Rising Deaths of Despair” in the United States
	Introduction
	Social and Individual-Level Factors
	Evangelical Christianity
	Conclusions
	Notes
	References
5 Aging and Long-Term Care Problems During the Covid-19 Pandemic
	Introduction
	Trends and Challenges in the Long-Term Care Sector
	Pre-Pandemic Long-Term Care Reforms in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy
		Long-Term Care Reforms: Main Characteristics and Achievements
		Long-Term Care Reforms and Pre-Pandemic Institutional Change
	The Pandemic and Its Consequences: Measures and Policy in the Long-Term Care Sector
	Conclusion
	Notes
	References
6 Older People During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An International Comparison of Four Cities
	Introduction
	Emergency and Disaster Risk Management for Health (Health-EDRM)
		Health-EDRM Framework
		Concerns for the Vulnerable
		Protecting the Most Vulnerable
		Older People in Cities
	Literature Review
		Concept of Health Welfare Regime
		Government Responses
		Older People’s Reactions
	Methodology
		Selection of Cities
	Timeframe of Study
	Framework of Case Study
	Findings
		Case One: Older People in Wuhan (January to May 2020)
		Case Two: Older People in Milan (February to May 2020)
		Case Three: London and Its Older People (March 2020 to March 2021)
		Case Four: Older People in Hong Kong, China (January to June 2022)
	Discussion
		Covid-19 Deaths and Preventable Deaths
		Older People-Friendly Healthcare
		Health Welfare Regime
	Conclusions
	References
7 Comparing Social Policy Responses Between Separate Crises: Taking the Case of Indonesia
	The Paths to Change
	The Evolution of Indonesian Social Policy
	Shaping Policy Responses: Comparative Cases from Two Crises
		The Asian Financial Crisis
	The Covid-19 Crisis
	Lessons Learned
	References
Part III Country Case Study Chapters on the Pandemic Itself (With Additional Focal Points)
8 The Pandemic in Mainland China: With Special Reference to Rising Relative Poverty
	Relative Poverty in the Modern Society: Notions and Concepts
	The Rising Relative Poverty During the Covid-19 Pandemic and China’s
		Social Policy Responses
	An Overview of China’s Relative Poverty Development During the Covid-19 Pandemic
		The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Job Market and People’s Livelihood: The Phenomenon of “Poverty Caused by the Pandemic” (in Chinese: Inyi Zhipin)
		In the Urban Spaces
		In Rural Spaces
	Response of Economic Policy, Tax Policy and Social Policy to Relative Poverty During the Pandemic
		Economic, Fiscal and Tax Policy
		Unemployment Insurance
		Social Assistance
	Secondary Poverty—A Form of Relative Poverty
	Conclusion and Discussion
	Notes
	References
9 The Covid-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: With Special Reference to Older People’s Problems
	Covid-19 Pandemic in Taiwan
	Main Preventive Measures to Control the Covid-19 Spread
	Covid-19 Pandemic and Older Adults in Taiwan
	Preventive Measures in Hospital and Older People with Health Conditions
		Decreases in Numbers of Outpatient Visits and Hospital Admissions
		Infection Control Measures in Taiwanese Hospitals and Their Effects on Health of Patients
	Adaptive Strategies in Government and Hospitals
		Preventive Measures Affecting Home- and Community-Based Services and Migrant Home Care Workers
		Effects of Infection Control Measures on Home- and Community-Based Services and the Termination of the Entry of Migrant Home Care Workers on Community-Dwelling Older Adults
	Infection Control Measures in Long-Term Care Facilities
		Number of Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
		Infection Control Measures in Long-Term Care Institutions
		Adaptive Strategies in Long-Term Care Facilities
	Effects of Infection Control Measures on Older Adults Who Live Alone
		Number of Older Adults Who Live Alone in Taiwan
		Effects of Infection Control Measures on Older Adults Who Live Alone
		Adaptive Strategies for Older Adults Who Live Alone
	Suggestions for Future Policy Responses for Older Persons in a Pandemic
	Appendix A: Panel A—Average Outpatient Visits in Every 0.1 Million People from 2017–2020
	Appendix A: Panel B—Changes Between Years in Average Outpatient Visits in Every 0.1 Million People from 2017–2020
	Appendix B: Panel A—Average Hospital Admissions in Every 0.1 Million people by Age Group from 2017–2020
	Appendix B: Panel B—Changes in Average Hospital Admissions by Age Group from 2017–2020
	References
10 The Covid-19 Pandemic in Thailand: With Special Reference to Informal Workers’ Problems
	Introduction
	The Covid-19 Pandemic in Thailand and Its Impact on the Economy
	Informal Sector in Thailand
	Policy Response for Informal Employment
	Conclusion
	References
11 The Covid-19 Pandemic in Italy: With Special Reference to the Effects on Women and Families
	Introduction
	The Development of the Pandemic in Italy
		The Emergency Phase
		The Coexistence Phase
		Impact on Mortality and Births
		Impacts on Work and Schooling
	Government Response and Evaluation of It
	Consequences of the Pandemic for Women and Families
		Violence Against Women in Interpersonal and Family Relationships
		Impact on Family and Work Integration: An Overview
		Work-Family Reconciliation Strategies in Italy in 2020: Longitudinal Evidence
	Conclusion and Outlook
	Notes
	References
12 The Covid-19 Pandemic in Greece: With Special Reference to Women’s Employment
	Introduction
	The Evolution of the Pandemic in Greece
	Government Response and Its Evaluation
	Women’s Employment During the Pandemic in Greece
	Conclusions
	Notes
	References
13 The Covid-19 Pandemic in Austria: With Special Reference to Migrant Care Workers
	Introduction
	The Pandemic Development in Austria
	Government Response and Its Evaluation
	Migrant Care Workers During the Covid Crisis
	Outlook and Conclusion
	Notes
	References
Part IV Concluding Part
14 Analyzing Problem-Cum-Policy Cycles and Evaluating Policy Strategies in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Meta Conclusion
	References