From expression to infection: decoding the role of freedom in pandemic dynamics

Abstract In 2020, COVID-19 unfolded in a hyperconnected society. Its impact, before vaccines, was linked to the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This study examines the relationship between freedom of expression, academic freedom, NPIs, and the COVID-19 trend, in a sample of 157 countries. We find that countries with higher levels of freedom of expression and academic freedom had fewer daily COVID-19 cases. These findings are in line with the idea that public trust fosters NPI compliance, and suggest that these freedoms may play an important role in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. Our results suggest that policymakers should consider levels of freedom of expression and academic freedom before implementing NPIs to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. The article also discusses the limitations of our analysis and suggests directions for future research.