The Role of Scientific Expertise in COVID-19 Policy-making: Evidence from Four European Countries

Ron Hodges (), Eugenio Caperchione (), Jan Helden (), Christoph Reichard () and Daniela Sorrentino ()
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Ron Hodges: University of Birmingham
Eugenio Caperchione: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Jan Helden: University of Groningen
Christoph Reichard: University of Potsdam
Daniela Sorrentino: University of Siena

Public Organization Review, 2022, vol. 22, issue 2, No 3, 249-267

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: COVID-19 policy making; Scientific advice; Political logics; Scientific logics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11115-022-00614-z

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