Morris Altman, Dean, University of Dundee School of Business (UDSB), Chair Professor of Behavioural and Institutional Economics, and Co-operatives, Dundee, Scotland, UK, Hannah Altman, Senior Lecturer, International Sports Business, Global Institute of Sports (GIS), Sydney, Australia and Louise Lamontagne, Independent Researcher

‘Covid-19 has been a dramatic lesson in risky decision-making. Neither the strict lockdowns of China nor the liberal policies of Sweden emerged as ideal solutions. This critical and insightful book presents a compelling empirical case for balanced, nuanced policymaking that accounts for socioeconomic costs. A valuable survival guide for future pandemics - highly recommended.’

• Contents1 Introduction: Covid-19 and the importance of choice insmart decision-making 2 Covid policy and the politics of fear andmisunderstanding 3 Covid-19 death rates: comparing soft- and hard-policycountries and why soft, non-lockdown policy worked best 4 Why Covid deaths concentrated on the aged and in carefacilities and why extreme lockdowns made things worse 5 The effectiveness of mask mandates and other soft-policy measures during the Covid-19 pandemic 6 History matters: How soft policies worked in the pastand should have informed Covid policy 7 The socioeconomic and mental health costs of Covid:Why policy matters 8 Conclusion: The fact-based superiority of soft policyand the unnecessary burden of lockdown policy

Morris Altman, Dean, University of Dundee School of Business (UDSB), Chair Professor of Behavioural and Institutional Economics, and Co-operatives, Dundee, Scotland, UK, Hannah Altman, Senior Lecturer, International Sports Business, Global Institute of Sports (GIS), Sydney, Australia and Louise Lamontagne, Independent Researcher

‘Covid-19 has been a dramatic lesson in risky decision-making. Neither the strict lockdowns of China nor the liberal policies of Sweden emerged as ideal solutions. This critical and insightful book presents a compelling empirical case for balanced, nuanced policymaking that accounts for socioeconomic costs. A valuable survival guide for future pandemics - highly recommended.’

• Contents1 Introduction: Covid-19 and the importance of choice insmart decision-making 2 Covid policy and the politics of fear andmisunderstanding 3 Covid-19 death rates: comparing soft- and hard-policycountries and why soft, non-lockdown policy worked best 4 Why Covid deaths concentrated on the aged and in carefacilities and why extreme lockdowns made things worse 5 The effectiveness of mask mandates and other soft-policy measures during the Covid-19 pandemic 6 History matters: How soft policies worked in the pastand should have informed Covid policy 7 The socioeconomic and mental health costs of Covid:Why policy matters 8 Conclusion: The fact-based superiority of soft policyand the unnecessary burden of lockdown policy

Morris Altman, Dean, University of Dundee School of Business (UDSB), Chair Professor of Behavioural and Institutional Economics, and Co-operatives, Dundee, Scotland, UK, Hannah Altman, Senior Lecturer, International Sports Business, Global Institute of Sports (GIS), Sydney, Australia and Louise Lamontagne, Independent Researcher

‘Covid-19 has been a dramatic lesson in risky decision-making. Neither the strict lockdowns of China nor the liberal policies of Sweden emerged as ideal solutions. This critical and insightful book presents a compelling empirical case for balanced, nuanced policymaking that accounts for socioeconomic costs. A valuable survival guide for future pandemics - highly recommended.’

• Contents1 Introduction: Covid-19 and the importance of choice insmart decision-making 2 Covid policy and the politics of fear andmisunderstanding 3 Covid-19 death rates: comparing soft- and hard-policycountries and why soft, non-lockdown policy worked best 4 Why Covid deaths concentrated on the aged and in carefacilities and why extreme lockdowns made things worse 5 The effectiveness of mask mandates and other soft-policy measures during the Covid-19 pandemic 6 History matters: How soft policies worked in the pastand should have informed Covid policy 7 The socioeconomic and mental health costs of Covid:Why policy matters 8 Conclusion: The fact-based superiority of soft policyand the unnecessary burden of lockdown policy