Mask Independency: Taiwan's response to mask shortage in the COVID-19 pandemic

Nadja Katharina Meichle () and Manuel Torres Lajo ()

No 03/2021, The CoronaNet Researchers Working Paper Series from CoronaNet Research Project

Abstract: In the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, most territories worldwide suffered from face mask shortages, given its huge demand and limited production capacity. However, Taiwan faced such a shortage only briefly due to their ability to swiftly increase local production of face masks. This not only allowed them to guarantee local supply for all their citizens but also to export them for profit at a later stage. In this paper, we argue that several reasons led to the success of Taiwan's mask independence. First, its previous experience with the 2003 SARS epidemic that subsequently led to institutional and legal changes, an increased awareness in the population about PPE and hygiene, and experienced technocrats. Also, the developmental state model offers the basis for a quick change of the national market and an increased cooperation between the private sector and the government.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; face mask production; SARS epidemic; developmental state (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 13 pages
Date: 2021-12, Revised 2022-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ayl:wpaper:202103

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