Which factors ensure success in battling COVID-19? Germany vs U.S. (Marie Kohlenberg)

Germany is considered one of the countries which implemented an effective COVID-19 response mainly because of its federal system and Proportional Representation electoral rules. Whereas the U.S. has been criticized for responding less successful.

First, Germany has over 83 million[1] people but the area is only about the size of the U.S. state Montana. Comparing that with a population over 330 million[2], the U.S. is about 28 times bigger than Germany. Meaning Germany’s population is much more concentrated into a smaller space.[3]

Second, the kind of federalism practiced: In the U.S. the states have the power to legislate for the health welfare, safety and morals of the citizens. They therefore own the power of quarantine[4] and are responsible for responding to public health concerns.[5] In Germany the states execute Federal Laws in their own right. The German Federation enacted an Infection Protection Act to regulate the control and measures to fight dangerous infections like COVID-19. [6]

Third, research shows that the democratic principles matter for the health outcomes of a country. Germany has Proportional Representation with broader and more inclusive coalitions which have shown to design more efficient health systems. This means a wider geographic distribution of hospitals and a better health system across the country compared to the health system of a Majoritarian democracy like in the U.S. The average COVID related death rates where Proportional Representation is practiced are lower (4.35%) than in countries with the Majoritarian System (6.57%).[7]

In conclusion, the aspects stated above in relation to the confirmed number of cases in both countries (U.S. 4 million; Germany 205.000[8]), are indicators of what a country like Germany has done during but also before the pandemic to respond more effectively to a crisis like COVID-19.

[1] Destatis; https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Population/Current-Population/_node.html

[2] United States Census Bureau; “U.S. and World Clock” (July 26, 2020); https://www.census.gov/popclock/

[3] Maps of World (June 7, 2017); “How big is Germany compared to the United States?”; https://www.mapsofworld.com/answers/united-states/big-germany-compared-united-states/

[4] JAMA Health Forum, Sarah H. Gordon; Nicole Huberfeld; David K. Jones (May 15, 2020), “What Federalism Means for the US Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019”; https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2766033

[5] Forum of Federation, John Kincaid & J. Wesley Leckrone (April 23, 2020); “Federalism and the COVID-19 crisis in the United States of America”; http://www.forumfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/USACOVID1.pdf

[6] Forum of Federation, Georg Milbrad (April 16, 2020); “Federalism and the COVID-19 crisis: A perspective from Germany“; http://www.forumfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GermanyCOVID.pdf

[7] The Washington Post; Joel Selway (May 19, 2020); “Which kinds of democracies respond more effectively to a pandemic?”; https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/19/which-kinds-democracies-respond-more-effectively-pandemic/

[8] COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University (July 24, 2020); https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6