EconTalk

Don Boudreaux on the Pandemic

Jul 12, 2021

Economist Don Boudreaux, from George Mason University and writer at Cafe Hayek, discusses the pandemic's overreactions, highlighting the unnecessary lockdowns and their high costs. He emphasizes focusing on the elderly, particularly those with co-morbidities, rather than imposing blanket measures. The conversation critiques the role of sensational media in amplifying fear and misinformation. Boudreaux also delves into ethical dilemmas surrounding vaccination mandates, personal responsibility, and societal values related to the elderly, advocating for a more balanced public health approach.

01:10:53

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Episode guests

Donald Boudreaux

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Pandemic Perceptions: Media, Fear, and Policy

29min

Media and Misinformation During COVID-19

3min

Navigating COVID-19's Impact

16min

The Great Barrington Declaration and Public Health Policies

13min

Ethical Dilemmas in Vaccination and Freedom

3min

Personal Responsibility and Public Health: Navigating Negative Externalities

2min

Valuing the Elderly vs. Societal Costs

2min

Economist Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks about the pandemic with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Boudreaux argues that a perfect storm of factors created a huge overreaction, including unnecessary lockdowns that accomplished little at a very high cost in physical and emotional health. Instead, Boudreaux argues, we should have focused attention on the population most at risk of dying from COVID--the elderly and especially the elderly with co-morbidities. The conversation includes a discussion of externalities and the insights of Ronald Coase applied to the policies during the pandemic.