COVID-19


Does COVID-19 herald a boon for golden passport schemes in Europe?

The granting of residency or citizenship in exchange for investment is an established – and legal – practice in many states, but it sits uneasily with ‘European values’ as usually promoted. Policy Leader Fellow Anna Patricia Valerio looks into how these schemes are evolving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why does public–private partnership matter in Africa’s post-Covid recovery?

Foreign direct investment in Africa fell significantly in 2020 due to COVID-19. Independent of the success or failure of the EU’s Global Gateway infrastructure initiative, Africa’s governments can boost the region’s recovery, writes Policy Leader Fellow Umar Kabanda, by improving the conditions for public–private partnerships.

COVID-19: Spur or restraint to citizen engagement?

Initially the COVID-19 crisis appeared to put a halt to street protests and other forms of citizen engagement in Europe. But the pandemic has also increased the value of solidarity, motivating involvement on behalf of people at risk. EUI research fellow Ioana-Elena Oana and colleagues have explored the ways in which perceived threats and ideological predispositions have shaped how and when people mobilise.

Who should pay for the COVID-19 crisis? Learning from war-time experiences

Progressive taxes could be one positive outcome of Covid-19, as people demand fiscal fairness following a crisis. SPS researcher Jakob Frizell explores the parallels with war-time fiscal politics and the constraints on governments today to meet such demands. Taxing the rich, he concludes, is still the wise choice.

Do not pause vaccinating

COVID-19 is a dangerous and deadly disease. Economists Peter Hansen and David Levine argue that stopping or delaying vaccination with the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines out of an “abundance of caution” is not worth the risk.

When collegiality matters… or of Von der Leyen’s loneliness

World leaders are acting quickly to confront the COVID emergency, sometimes at the expense of established rules and procedures. RSC research associate Maria Patrin examines the fall-out earlier this month when European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen bypassed the Commission’s principle of collegiality in decision-making.