One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that different countries have varying success in fighting the virus and saving lives. Supriya Garikipati and Uma Kambhampati dedicate their new working paper to the question: What role does a country leader’s gender play in the fight against the pandemic? They conclude that female leaders were faster than their male counterparts to enter the first Covid-19 lockdown, which led to more lives being saved. Female-led countries fared better, but… When simply comparing numbers, it is clear that female-led countries have indeed done a lot better in the pandemic than male-led ones. Both the average number of COVID-19 cases and the average death toll related to the virus are much lower in countries led by women than in countries that have a male head of government. This does, however, not mean that having a female leader is what determines how well a country copes with the pandemic. There are many factors that may influence this outcome, such as a country’s GDP and population size – or even how many tourists travel there. So how did the researchers isolate the effect of the leader’s gender on pandemic performance? … was gender the determining factor? To make countries more comparable, the researchers matched them based on characteristics they deemed influential on pandemic development, in particular GDP per capita, population, city density, and population older than 65 years old. This “nearest neighbour”-method allowed them to compare countries that were very similar except for the gender of their leaders. They also controlled for annual health expenditure, the number of tourists entering the country, and a country’s gender equality index. The logic behind this last control, according to the authors, was that countries who elected a female leader might generally be more equitable or modern, allowing the political leader to enact more cautious policies. After controlling for these potential omitted variables that could be driving the effect of the pandemic on a country, they still found that female-led countries performed better. The researchers also checked if their results held if they dropped from the analysis the US, Germany, and New Zealand, and it did. Why were female-led countries more successful in their response? The authors found that female-led countries entered into the first lockdown significantly quicker than male-led ones. On average, countries led by women locked down at 22 Covid-related deaths fewer than countries led by men. The quicker initial response then prevented more deaths later on. The authors point to findings from behavioural economics suggesting that women are more risk-averse than men and neurobiology showing that women on average incorporate more emotional information into their decision making. Men, on the other hand, tend to be more overconfident in uncertain situations and are more averse to accepting economic losses. Simply put, the selected findings suggest that women, on average, take different decisions than men. In the pandemic, the authors argue, this led to different outcomes. Are we asking the right questions? While the researchers used a variety of methods to capture omitted variable bias, there are still considerable shortcomings to this study. Most notably, the sample of female leaders is very small. Out of 194 countries included in the study, only 19 are led by women. One can hardly extrapolate any general findings of female leaders based on this sample. Secondly, research from the other disciplines which the authors point to for possible explanations for gender differences is, at best, inconclusive. Isolating gender as an explanatory variable is extremely difficult and one would need a very large number of studies to synthesise any reliable results. Lastly, we should carefully reflect on what the added value of asking these kinds of questions is. While this particular study is rather favourable to women, it also feeds into gender stereotypes, comparing seemingly emotional women with rational men. The finding that countries which entered lockdown sooner rather than later saved more lives would have been a valid and interesting finding in itself - without trying to force a connection to the political leaders’ gender.

Starting in the 1970s, neoliberalism and deregulation began to rear their head, leading to the rollback of government under Thatcherism and Reaganism. But the origins of these movements have been de-historicized, and a better appreciation of these movements, as viewed through Stigler’s 1971 paper, can help us demystify this often politically-charged debate. Stigler cuts this false binary by showing that regulation was often cynically utilised by industries to garner unfair and uncompetitive advantages. In 2021, ‘regulation’ often resembles a Rorschach test. To the political right, it is a futile mechanism that deters business, whereas on the left it reigns in evil corporations. But 50 years ago, George Stigler provided a provocative analysis of regulation, whereby ‘regulation is acquired by the industry and is designed and operated primarily for its benefit.’ A half-century ago, the regulatory landscape of the United States was drastically different, with various regulations appearing absolutely baffling. From 1938 to the 1970s, the US civil aviation authority did not give approval to a single new flight route. In banking, the FDIC’s rules restricted new banking entrants by 60% (per regression analysis), thus protecting incumbent banks. Perhaps most comically, the trucking industry was so favourable to incumbents that, despite thousands of applications, the number of licensed carriers shrunk by a quarter from 1945 to 1965. Why was this? The answer, according to Stigler, is relatively simple: ‘every industry or occupation that has enough political power to utilize the state will seek to control entry.’ Why bother competing when the government (whose greatest power is ultimate coercion) can do it for you? Standard Oil-esque monopolies were illegal, so businesses had to find new ways to seek advantages (albeit at the cost to the consumer), and regulation provided the perfect avenue. According to Stigler, there are four ways by which industries use regulations to their own benefit: Direct subsidies Onerous requirements for new entrants (as was done in trucking, banking, and airlines) Encouraging complimentary goods and discouraging substitutes (for example the butter industry supported the bread industry while discouraging the upstart margarine industry) Price fixing (more difficult, as this requires public support) Stigler’s theory, while economic, is also intensely political. Essentially, he has a Schumpeterian political viewpoint, whereby competing interest groups use their influence to secure political office and enact favourable legislation for their patron (voter or industry or otherwise). Why don’t people revolt against this? Because of the mismatch between politics and economic life. In economies, one only ‘votes’ on what they buy, but in politics actions affect everyone, due to the coercive nature of the states. The result is increasing information asymmetries: whereas politics encompasses more issues every year, the average voter has less proportional knowledge because their knowledge of politics does not increase at a proportional rate. In short, in politics, people just aren’t as informed, because ‘information must be sought on many issues of little or no direct concern to the individual,’ whereas when one buys something, they know much more about it. Stigler’s paper was a Zeitgeist of the time. Stigler’s contemporaries would go on to be luminaries in the ‘neoliberal’ and libertarian movements – e.g. Milton Friedman and Robert Nozick – which provided much of the intellectual heft behind the Reagan-Thatcher movement. This neoliberal wave swept the Western world, helping to break up unions, usher in financialization, and enabled what some might call the ‘Final Wave’ of globalization. Of course, not that one can blame this all on Friedman, or Nozick, or Stigler. Stigler had valid critiques, and his understanding of regulation as a form of soft state capture can be helpful as we, in the 21st century, try and define the increasingly fraught question of where does the state stop, and the market begin? And how do we best serve ‘the people’ with regulation that is not only fair but effective? I don’t think Nozick knew the answer (nor does he claim to), but the question remains 50 years later, which makes his thinking on the issue all the more worthy of revisiting.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.