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This Time is Different? - On the Use of Emergency Measures During the Corona Pandemic

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  • Bjørnskov, Christian
  • Voigt, Stefan

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused thousands to die and millions to lose their jobs, it has also prompted more governments to simultaneously to declare a state of emergency than ever before. States of emergency usually imply the extension of executive powers that diminishes the powers of other branches of government, as well as to the civil liberties of individuals. Here, we analyze whether the use of emergency provisions during the COVID-19 pandemic is an exception, and find that this is not the case. In fact, some measures point at long-term dangers to the rule of law and democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Bjørnskov, Christian & Voigt, Stefan, 2020. "This Time is Different? - On the Use of Emergency Measures During the Corona Pandemic," ILE Working Paper Series 36, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ilewps:36
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hafner-Burton, Emilie M. & Helfer, Laurence R. & Fariss, Christopher J., 2011. "Emergency and Escape: Explaining Derogations from Human Rights Treaties," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 65(4), pages 673-707, October.
    2. Christian Bjørnskov & Martin Rode, 2020. "Regime types and regime change: A new dataset on democracy, coups, and political institutions," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 531-551, April.
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    6. Christian Bjørnskov & Stefan Voigt, 2021. "Is constitutionalized media freedom only window dressing? Evidence from terrorist attacks," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 187(3), pages 321-348, June.
    7. Carmen M. Reinhart & Kenneth S. Rogoff, 2009. "Varieties of Crises and Their Dates," Introductory Chapters, in: This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, Princeton University Press.
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    9. Bjørnskov, Christian & Voigt, Stefan, 2018. "Why do governments call a state of emergency? On the determinants of using emergency constitutions," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 110-123.
    10. Christian Bjørnskov & Stefan Voigt, 2022. "Terrorism and emergency constitutions in the Muslim world," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 59(3), pages 305-318, May.
    11. Christian Bjørnskov & Stefan Voigt, 2020. "When Does Terror Induce a State of Emergency? And What Are the Effects?," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(4), pages 579-613, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lukas Breide & Oliver Budzinski & Thomas Grebel & Juliane Mendelsohn, 2025. "Forerunners vs. latecomers—institutional competition in the German federalism during the COVID crisis," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 101-132, February.
    2. Egger, Clara & Magni-Berton, Raul & Roché, Sébastian & Aarts, Kees, 2020. "I do it my way. Understanding policy variation in pandemic response across Europe," OSF Preprints mscb8, Center for Open Science.
    3. Nick Cowen & Eric Schliesser, 2024. "Novel externalities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 201(3), pages 557-578, December.
    4. Giorgio Brosio, Riccardo Pelosi, Roberto Zanola, 2022. "Short-term exit from pandemic restrictions: did European countries' speed converge?," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 19(2), pages 145-159, December.
    5. Bjørnskov, Christian & Freytag, Andreas & Gutmann, Jerg, 2022. "Coups and the dynamics of media freedom," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Jonas Herby & Lars Jonung & Steve H. Hanke, 2025. "Were COVID-19 lockdowns worth it? A meta-analysis," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 203(3), pages 337-367, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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