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The political economy of drug and alcohol regulation during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Audrey Redford
  • Angela K. Dills

Abstract

States tightly regulate access to alcohol and other substances. During the pandemic and related state of emergency, state and federal governments adopted a variety of regulations affecting this access. State shelter‐in‐place orders included decisions about whether liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries are essential businesses. Decisions about telehealth access to medical marijuana or treatments for substance use disorders were made at the state and federal levels. This article examines the political economy behind these decisions, focusing on deviations from the norm including Pennsylvania's decision to close state‐run liquor stores. Interest groups and other political considerations help explain state and federal policy changes affecting access to alcohol and other substances.

Suggested Citation

  • Audrey Redford & Angela K. Dills, 2021. "The political economy of drug and alcohol regulation during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1175-1209, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:87:y:2021:i:4:p:1175-1209
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12496
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    Cited by:

    1. Vincent Miozzi & Benjamin Powell, 2023. "The pre-pandemic political economy determinants of lockdown severity," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 197(1), pages 167-183, October.
    2. Stefanie Haeffele & Jordan K. Lofthouse & Agustin Forzani, 2023. "The Perils of Regulating COVID–19: Insights from Kirznerian Entrepreneurship and Ostromian Polycentricity," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 331-355, September.
    3. David J. Hebert & Michael D. Curry, 2022. "Optimal lockdowns," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 193(3), pages 263-274, December.

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