Coronavirus backcasting and Britain’s omnishambles

A study released last week looked at the true numbers of COVID-19 infections based on mortality rates. In doing so, it painted a grim picture for a number of countries including the United Kingdom. On this Democracy Sausage, we hear from one of the authors of that report, Professor Quentin Grafton.

Australia may have the coronavirus largely under control for now, but elsewhere in the world countries are still suffering staggeringly high numbers of infections and deaths. But a study published last week ‘backcasted’ true rates of infections based on mortality. In doing so, it found infection rates in some countries far higher than official statistics suggest: in the UK the study suggested infection rates are 16 times higher than the published numbers. On this Democracy Sausage, Professor Mark Kenny is joined by regular podleague Dr Marija Taflaga and one of the authors of the report, Professor Quentin Grafton. The panel talk about Europe and the US’ COVID-19 challenge, Australia’s response, and Quentin makes his pitch to Netflix for a new documentary called The Clown.

Quentin Grafton is Professor of Economics, Australian Laureate Fellow, Convenor of the Water Justice Hub, and Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy at ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. He is also chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance and Editor-in-Chief of Policy Forum.

Marija Taflaga is Director of ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a lecturer in the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Her major research is on political parties and particularly the Liberal Party of Australia.

Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.

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This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University.

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