The East Asian Covid-19 Paradox

This Element examines why East Asian countries (with caveats) managed to control Covid-19 better than most other countries.

Yves Tiberghien (Author)

9781108977913, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 March 2022

75 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 0.5 cm, 0.15 kg

The Covid-19 pandemic triggered the first global public health emergency since 1918, the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the greatest geopolitical tensions in decades. Global governance mechanisms failed. Yet, East Asian countries (with caveats) managed to control Covid-19 better than most other countries and to increase their cooperation toward economic integration, despite their position on the security frontline. What explains this East Asian Covid paradox in a region devoid of strong regional institutions? This Element argues that high levels of institutional preparation, social cohesion, and global strategic reinforcement in a context of situational convergence explain the results. It relies on high-level interviews and case studies across the region.

1. Introduction
2. Covid-19, Triple Shock, and Failure of Global Governance
3. Institutional Capacity, Social Cohesion, and Success at Home
4. The Surprising Resilience of East Asian Economic Linkages
5. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International economics [KCL], Public administration [JPP], Political structure & processes [JPH]