Comparing the outcome of Government responses to Covid-19

South Korea has tamed the pandemic: the country outscores the others in scope on every level. Its economy has been relatively spared and is recovering confidently. The health system and citizens have remained insulated from the deadly virus and all of this with government spending on additional support measures at only 6.4% of its GDP. South Korea shares the podium with Australia and New Zealand, which also show remarkable management of the crisis.

Singapore has mastered the recovery: the country’s economy had the strongest economic upsurge, whilst having a relatively low number of Covid-related deaths and the highest vaccination rate, with 80% of the population being fully vaccinated against the virus.

Protecting the people protects the economy: the countries that kept the spread of the virus under control and have successfully rolled out vaccination experience better economic performance and stronger recovery.

There is no correlation between the strictness of a country’s countermeasures and its health score: restrictive rules do not necessarily help contain the virus. It appears that what matters is to have reasonable and targeted measures.