News item | 10-02-2023 | 4:55 pm
Almost a year ago, the government presented the long-term approach to COVID-19, with a focus on social and economic continuity and vitality. Part of this is the establishment of the Social Impact Team (MIT) in the summer of 2022. The government recently further elaborated this long-term strategy, partly in response to reports from the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) and the Scientific Council for the Government Policy (WRR). The Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) calls for the government to develop a vision for society that can withstand crisis situations, such as a pandemic.
After the acute phase of the corona pandemic, there is now more room for reflection and a view of a longer-term approach. The SCP has advocated this from the start of the corona crisis. A resilient society is important in this respect; not only for recovery from the pandemic, but also in preparation for future virus threats. In its approach to COVID-19 and any other pandemics, the government pays attention to the social effects on people’s lives and on society as a whole. The SCP considers this important and would like to highlight three points.
1) Develop a vision for society that is crisis-resistant
Firstly, it is important that the government, but also society, has a clear idea of what kind of society we want to live in. And to determine what we want to preserve, protect or compensate as much as possible during a corona or new pandemic in areas such as care and health, culture, education, economy and living together. This requires both a political and a social debate. It is important here that the dissenting opinions of citizens are also taken seriously. It is then up to politicians to develop a clear vision for the longer term; elaborated into more concrete policy goals. A clear vision of the quality of society that also survives crisis situations, such as a pandemic.
2) Be aware of the long-term effects of policy choices on people and society
Secondly, the corona pandemic made it clear that the effects of measures go beyond health alone. Some effects of the corona pandemic are long-lasting and can still be felt by groups of people, such as young people with an educational disadvantage or people with long-term health problems. These adverse effects can also accumulate. Not only because of the consequences of the pandemic, but also because of other social problems, such as the rising cost of living. It is important that this is taken into account – in a long-term approach – with social facilities that are in order and prevent people from sinking through the ice.
3) Develop an assessment framework to weigh up interests against each other
Thirdly, a so-called ‘assessment framework’ is needed to be able to weigh the interests of groups of people. This is not an easy task and it creates dilemmas, sometimes very painful. For example, how do you weigh the risk of educational disadvantage among young people against the loss of social contacts of single people, or against the risk of infection and loss of health or years of life? This assessment framework can also provide insight into which values you can use to make a choice, such as justice or solidarity. Moreover, it helps to identify which consequences are socially undesirable and which consequences should be compensated and for whom.
The art for science and advisers, such as MIT and SCP, is to clarify which type of knowledge, and more specifically which effects and valuations, are relevant for political decision-making that is as fully informed as possible. For example, which groups are or could become vulnerable. In the event of a pandemic, there may be increased risks of mortality and long-term physical health problems, but it also affects other aspects of people’s lives. For example, frail elderly people can feel lonely if they cannot or dare not receive visitors. This also has an effect in our society, for example when it comes to social cohesion. This requires insight into how, for example, you weigh health and civil rights in relation to measures whereby people have fewer social contacts in order to limit the spread of a serious virus.
In short
The SCP believes it is important to develop a vision of society that helps to map out the social consequences of corona or other pandemics. A clear assessment framework provides insight into the consequences and supports the weighing of the interests of groups of people when taking a political decision on measures that are necessary in the event of a pandemic.
