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The COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons on building more equal and sustainable societies

Author

Listed:
  • Kristin van Barneveld
  • Michael Quinlan
  • Peter Kriesler
  • Anne Junor

    (UNSW Sydney, Australia)

  • Fran Baum

    (Flinders University, South Australia)

  • Anis Chowdhury
  • PN (Raja) Junankar

    (UNSW Canberra, Australia and Western Sydney University, Australia)

  • Stephen Clibborn
  • Frances Flanagan
  • Chris F Wright

    (The University of Sydney, Australia)

  • Sharon Friel

    (The Australian National University, Australia)

  • Joseph Halevi

    (International University College of Turin, Italy)

  • Al Rainnie

    (University of South Australia, Australia)

Abstract

This discussion paper by a group of scholars across the fields of health, economics and labour relations argues that COVID-19 is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis from which there can be no return to the ‘old normal’. The pandemic’s disastrous worldwide health impacts have been exacerbated by, and have compounded, the unsustainability of economic globalisation based on the neoliberal dismantling of state capabilities in favour of markets. Flow-on economic impacts have simultaneously created major supply and demand disruptions, and highlighted the growing within-country inequalities and precarity generated by neoliberal regimes of labour market regulation. Taking an Australian and international perspective, we examine these economic and labour market impacts, paying particular attention to differential impacts on First Nations people, developing countries, women, immigrants and young people. Evaluating policy responses in a political climate of national and international leadership very different from those in which major twentieth century crises were addressed, we argue the need for a national and international conversation to develop a new pathway out of crisis. JEL Codes: E18, HO, I1, J64, J88

Suggested Citation

  • Kristin van Barneveld & Michael Quinlan & Peter Kriesler & Anne Junor & Fran Baum & Anis Chowdhury & PN (Raja) Junankar & Stephen Clibborn & Frances Flanagan & Chris F Wright & Sharon Friel & Joseph H, 2020. "The COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons on building more equal and sustainable societies," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 31(2), pages 133-157, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:31:y:2020:i:2:p:133-157
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304620927107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Bickley, Steve J. & Brumpton, Martin & Chan, Ho Fai & Colthurst, Richard & Torgler, Benno, 2021. "The stabilizing effect of social distancing: Cross-country differences in financial market response to COVID-19 pandemic policies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    3. Emilio Álvarez-Arregui & Eufrasio Pérez-Navío & Raúl González-Fernández & Alejandro Rodríguez-Martín, 2021. "Pedagogical Leaders and the Teaching—Learning Processes in COVID-19 Times," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-22, July.
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    5. Alistair Rainnie, 2021. "Regional development and agency: Unfinished business," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 36(1), pages 42-55, February.
    6. Andrew Chapman & Takeshi Tsuji, 2020. "Impacts of COVID-19 on a Transitioning Energy System, Society, and International Cooperation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Chowdhury, Priyabrata & Paul, Sanjoy Kumar & Kaisar, Shahriar & Moktadir, Md. Abdul, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic related supply chain studies: A systematic review," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Muhammad Umar Farooq & Amjad Hussain & Tariq Masood & Muhammad Salman Habib, 2021. "Supply Chain Operations Management in Pandemics: A State-of-the-Art Review Inspired by COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-33, February.
    9. Fiona Jenkins & Julie Smith, 2021. "Work-from-home during COVID-19: Accounting for the care economy to build back better," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 32(1), pages 22-38, March.
    10. Ruixin Su & Bojan Obrenovic & Jianguo Du & Danijela Godinic & Akmal Khudaykulov, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Implications for Corporate Sustainability and Society: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, January.
    11. Ema Gusheva & Vincent de Gooyert, 2021. "Can We Have Our Cake and Eat It? A Review of the Debate on Green Recovery from the COVID-19 Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    12. Behnoosh Abbasnezhad & Jesse B. Abrams & Jeffrey Hepinstall-Cymerman, 2023. "Incorporating Social and Policy Drivers into Land-Use and Land-Cover Projection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Aymen Sajjad & Gabriel Eweje, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Female Workers’ Social Sustainability in Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Priyabrata Chowdhury & Rezaul Shumon, 2020. "Minimizing the Gap between Expectation and Ability: Strategies for SMEs to Implement Social Sustainability Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-15, August.
    15. John Burgess & Julia Connell, 2020. "New technology and work: Exploring the challenges," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 31(3), pages 310-323, September.
    16. Stephan Lewandowsky & Konstantinos Armaos & Hendrik Bruns & Philipp Schmid & Dawn Liu Holford & Ulrike Hahn & Ahmed Al-Rawi & Sunita Sah & John Cook, 2022. "When Science Becomes Embroiled in Conflict: Recognizing the Public’s Need for Debate while Combating Conspiracies and Misinformation," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 700(1), pages 26-40, March.
    17. Maura Campra & Paolo Esposito & Valerio Brescia, 2021. "State of the Art of COVID-19 and Business, Management, and Accounting Sector. A Bibliometrix Analysis," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(1), pages 1-35, August.
    18. Elena-Sabina Turnea & Ștefan Andrei Neștian & Silviu Mihail Tiță & Ana Iolanda Vodă & Alexandra Luciana Guță, 2020. "Dismissals and Temporary Leaves in Romanian Companies in the Context of Low Demand and Cash Flow Problems during the COVID-19 Economic Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, October.
    19. Stephan Lewandowsky & Keri Facer & Ullrich K. H. Ecker, 2021. "Losses, hopes, and expectations for sustainable futures after COVID," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, December.
    20. Naimoli, Antonio, 2022. "Modelling the persistence of Covid-19 positivity rate in Italy," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    21. ur Rehman, Attique & Shakeel Sadiq Jajja, Muhammad & Farooq, Sami, 2022. "Manufacturing planning and control driven supply chain risk management: A dynamic capability perspective," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    22. Johan Rockström & Albert V. Norström & Nathanial Matthews & Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs & Carl Folke & Ameil Harikishun & Saleemul Huq & Nisha Krishnan & Lila Warszawski & Deon Nel, 2023. "Shaping a resilient future in response to COVID-19," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 897-907, August.
    23. Piotr Żuk & Anna Pacześniak, 2020. "Sustainable Development, Energy Transition, and Climate Challenges in the Context of Gender: The Framework of Gender Determinants of Environmental Orientation in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Coronavirus; COVID-19; economic development; environmental sustainability; First Nations; gender; health equity; migration; neoliberalism; pandemic; public health; public housing; recession; supply chains; welfare payments; youth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J88 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Public Policy

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