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German centralization strategy during COVID-19: Continuing or interrupting a trend?

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  • Niehaus, Ines Marina
  • Lehr, Andreas
  • Kaiser, André
  • Müller, Helena Sophie
  • Kuntz, Ludwig

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries applied centralization strategies to the distribution of power between national government and regional/local governments over responsibility for regulatory tasks. As a result, health-policy decision-making competences were shifted from the regional level to the national level (vertical shift of decision-making competences). This centralization trend for the purpose of infection control is evident in Germany. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of health-policy regulatory measures (March 2018 to March 2020) in order to investigate whether the vertical shift in decision-making competences was already a trend in Germany before the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond infection control. Our results show that the centralization strategy observed during COVID-19 does not continue a trend. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, what was most important was the distribution of power at national level between government and non-government institutions (horizontal allocation of decision-making competences). This long-term trend strengthens the decision-making competences of government institutions and weakens non-government institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Niehaus, Ines Marina & Lehr, Andreas & Kaiser, André & Müller, Helena Sophie & Kuntz, Ludwig, 2024. "German centralization strategy during COVID-19: Continuing or interrupting a trend?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:150:y:2024:i:c:s0168851024001878
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tomas Bergström & Sabine Kuhlmann & Martin Laffin & Ellen Wayenberg, 2022. "Special issue on comparative intergovernmental relations and the pandemic: how European devolved governments responded to a public health crisis," Local Government Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(2), pages 179-190, March.
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    4. Greer, Scott L. & Dubin, Kenneth A. & Falkenbach, Michelle & Jarman, Holly & Trump, Benjamin D., 2023. "Alignment and authority: Federalism, social policy, and COVID-19 response," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 12-18.
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