Regional responses to Covid-19 : systemic resilience, human mobility, and cross-country supply chains

Abstract

The disruption of production, financial, and mobility systems caused by Covid-19 has reminded global and local actors that the ability to adapt to unexpected shocks depends critically on the ability of regions and states to organise a combination of responses that are specific to their local needs. In particular, Covid-19 has shown how restrictions on international mobility can quickly lead to shortages of essential goods, particularly medicines, produced in a handful of locations worldwide. We argue that policy initiatives aimed at developing regional models of production, trade, and employment, which reduce extensive reliance on multinational medical supply chains, carry the potential to ensure a better balance between efficiency and resilience