Hodges R, Caperchione E, van Helden J, Reichard C, Sorrentino D. The Role of Scientific Expertise in COVID-19 Policy-making: Evidence from Four European Countries.
PUBLIC ORGANIZATION REVIEW 2022;
22:249-267. [PMCID:
PMC8995888 DOI:
10.1007/s11115-022-00614-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Immense uncertainty and the need for drastic interventions cause politicians to rely heavily on scientific advice for underpinning or legitimating their COVID-19 decision-making. This paper explores the role of scientific advice in this policy field in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. It shows that scientific advice is based on the disciplinary, mainly medical, backgrounds of advisors but is also influenced by social and economic values, which are core to what politicians find important. During the pandemic a growing gap between scientific advice and political decisions is observed.
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