Social Trust and COVID-19: New Yorker

The COVID-19 pandemic leaves no part of the world untouched, exposing values along the way, from generosity to greed. The health crisis is similar to the climate-change crisis in that resolution requires collective action for the common good, argues climate activist Bill McKibben for the New Yorker. Libertarian thought, popular among some wealthy elite in advanced economies, includes resistance to taxation and government controls. Instead, many support individualist and competitive approaches, including private-sector and market responses for resolving challenges. Such methods can reinforce inequality. Countries with high levels of social trust find it easier to cooperate. “South Korea, for instance, where a comprehensive national health system made sure that no one had to worry about getting a test or paying for treatment,” McKibben notes. In March, the United Nations pointed out that nations "with higher levels of social trust and connections are more resilient in the face of natural disasters and economic crises.” Cooperating on fixes takes priority over fighting. – YaleGlobal