The Search for a Vaccine

Question A:

Given the social and regulatory pressures to keep prices down for drugs and vaccines to treat Covid-19, the financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in such products are below the value of the investment to society.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

Government commitments to pay developers and manufacturers above average costs for an effective vaccine or drug treatments for Covid-19 would accelerate production.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question C:

Given the positive externalities from vaccination, an effective Covid-19 vaccine should have priority in public healthcare funding even in countries where other diseases cause more death and disability.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
My understanding is that governments have used their monopsony power to make vaccines marginally profitable. They need to revisit this.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
It is a valid argument in some cases, but I think the private (long-run) return in this case for pharma firms could actually be quite large
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Not sure this is the main factor.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
This is true in general for some diseases (and not for others) but I don't think it's true for covid right now.
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
Besides, not obvious that successful pharma company should capture entire social benefit from vaccine!
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
There is a trade-off between restricted prices on one side and government assisted, eased market access - and thus: volume on the other side
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
The expected numbers are such that even with low expected prices pharmas are currently investing in COVID research already
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Generally speaking, I agree. For Covid-19, governments have offered support ex ante to counter this issue and incentivize investment.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
O'Rourke
Kevin O'Rourke
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Given the interest in the vaccine and drugs the one who discovers will make a fortune from the large quantities sold
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
Depends what motivates the scientists as well as their employers
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
I agree that firms need incentives to produce the vaccine. I dont know the firms' exact cost structure to understand if governments underpay
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Weder di Mauro
Beatrice Weder di Mauro
The Graduate Institute, Geneva Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Other factors also matter such as uncertainty as to which vaccine will end up working and how the vaccination process will work in practice.
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Key area going forward. Bioterrorism possibilities mean we need to stockpile many vaccines such as Ebola, Smapppox and so forth.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Though how much, I am less sure.
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
but again, high risk may be more of a constraint.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
I do not think that financial incentives are the main issue right now.
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
Not likely to be a particularly effective mechanism: "a bit above breakeven" will not provide much incentive
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Higher rents leads to higher competition among producers, increased politcal lobbying - and hence slower decision and production processes.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Largely implied by answer to earlier question, but in case of Covid & at this stage, I am not sure much can be done to accelerate further.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford
Strongly Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
O'Rourke
Kevin O'Rourke
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Profit maximizing!
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Governments have to share some of the risk by paying for fixed costs
Weder di Mauro
Beatrice Weder di Mauro
The Graduate Institute, Geneva Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History

Question C Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Covid-19 vaccination should be partially paid for by rich countries to deal with the externality issue.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Strongly Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
as a matter of logic: what about other vaccines? as a matter of fact: should have high priority
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
However, there are other diseases that also have big externalities that might have larger impacts.
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
International externalities require global financing; low income countries cannot afford to divert limited public health funding.
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
What matters in this decision problem is the extent to which drugs have externalities - Covid drugs may or may not excel on this metric.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Would agree for advanced economies, not clear developing ctrys should spend on Covid vaccine, rather than other diseases.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po
Strongly Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Switching funding away from existing programs may not be wise in all cases. Extra funding should be targeted to a vaccination program
O'Rourke
Kevin O'Rourke
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
not sure about the "even in countries..."
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
One has to take into account the economic consequences of confinements.
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
in some countries diseases like measles kill more people esp kids (more contagious). might be better to invest in a known vaccine than covid
-see background information here
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Weder di Mauro
Beatrice Weder di Mauro
The Graduate Institute, Geneva Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
I don't think this is true everywhere. Governments in advanced economies should invest in developing (and then sharing) a vaccine.
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History