Covid-19 Pandemic Problems Arising in Health and Social Policy

This book presents an overview of social problems and health problems that arose out of, or were flared up by, the global COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses most vital problems in developed and developing countries from literally around the world, by top country experts in their respective fields of study. The book debates first certain overall thematic topics and then analyzes a number of key country case studies. Apart from a set of key theme/problem-based chapters, the country case studies from major-hit countries in the world are yet another highlight of the book. They also feature, in addition to analyzing the pandemic and policy responses per se, one extra special focal point each. The book hence covers the core of most severe social problems, including health problems, that have been spurred or set off by the COVID-19 pandemic. An overall theory chapter that uses a global data analysis and a short theoretical appraisal on the 'human face' of the Pandemic is also offered at the beginning of book, to bring back humanity and human decency (i.e. decency of the human condition) into the scientific debate as well as policy making arena, which is utterly needed at this point of human development.

Introductory and Overarching Theory Part.- Introduction.- The Global Inequality Explosion Caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic.- Theme Chapters on Social Problems Raised by the Pandemic.- Socio-Economic and Geographic Inequality of Effects of the Pandemic.- Failure of Government Response to Ethnic Minorities: The Case of Australian Aboriginal Communities.- Aging and Long-Term Care Problems During the Pandemic.- Economic Problems Caused by the Pandemic—The Case of a Developing Country: India.- Comparing Social Policy Responses Between Separate Crises: Taking the Case of Indonesia.- Country Case Study Chapters on the Pandemic Itself (With an Additional Focal Point One Particular Social Problem).- The Pandemic in the United Kingdom: With Special Reference to Rising Mental Health Problems.- The Pandemic in the United States: With Special Reference to Rising ‘Deaths of Despair’.- The Pandemic in Australia: With Special Reference to Suicide in Aboriginal Communities.- The Pandemic in Mainland China: With Special Reference to Rising Relative Poverty.- The Pandemic in Taiwan: With Special Reference to Elderly People’s Problems.- The Pandemic in Thailand: With Special Reference to Informal Workers’ Problems.- The Pandemic in Brazil: With Special Reference to Unemployment.- The Pandemic in Spain: With Special Reference to Child Depriviation.- The Pandemic in Italy: With Special Reference to Women’s and Families’ Conditions.- The Pandemic in Greece: With Special Reference to Women’s Employment.- The Pandemic in Austria: With Special Reference to Migrant Care Workers’ Problems.- Concluding Part.- Conclusions.