State Capacity and COVID-19 lockdowns - a Case-Study on Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

Abstract: This paper tests the applicability of state-capacity theories concerning countries decision to carry out national ’lockdowns’ during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on previous research by Axel Cronert and deepens his conclusion of high state-capacity’s connection to slow implementation of disruptive measures through a contrasting qualitative analysis. By measuring infrastructural state-capacity via a definition from Hillel D. Soifer a multiple-case study on Brazil, Chile and Paraguay is made. By evaluating statistics and empirical investigations I conclude that there seems to be a positive correlation between some aspects on infrastructural state capacity and slow implementation of national quarantines. These findings suggest that a more detailed qualitative study should be issued in order to further the potential understanding of this phenomenon.