Essential or Expedient? COVID-19 and Business Closures in the U.S. States Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • To what extent has political pressure or connectedness influenced governors’ responses to public health recommendations regarding business closures? We investigate whether campaign contributions from particular industries track governors’ designations of those industries as “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing the initial iteration of states’ lockdown orders, we find preliminary evidence linking receipt of gubernatorial campaign contributions from industry to an increased likelihood of designating that business area as essential. In other words, governors are more likely to designate a business area as essential if they received campaign contributions from that business area. Our result preliminarily suggests that money in politics plays a role in shaping public health responses, and we recommend further research on this matter.

publication date

  • March 11, 2021

has restriction

  • closed

Date in CU Experts

  • February 1, 2022 12:10 PM

Full Author List

  • Crosson JM; Parinandi SC

author count

  • 2

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2689-4815

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2689-4823

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 81

end page

  • 102

volume

  • 2

issue

  • 1