Braess’s Paradox at Work in Covid-19 Locked Down India
When one thinks of Braess’s paradox, the word that comes to mind is usually something like “roads” or “traffic.” Yet, Braess’s paradox is not limited to just roads and cars. One such alternate application can be seen during the widespread shutdowns that occurred during the recent coronavirus pandemic. In his article titled “India Comes Together During Coronavirus Pandemic,” Anurag Saxena argues that India’s government shutdown led to an increase in health and medical services becoming available. Note that in this specific example, we take something away and receive benefits instead of the more common instance of Braess’s paradox where we add something and receive harm. Saxena cites various examples of new health initiatives, including the creation of a sexual well-being helpline in New Dehli and the distribution of “sanitizer, infrared thermometers, masks, and protective personal equipment kits.” Additionally, school kitchens have been repurposed (as there was no in-person school during lockdown) to provide meals for those who are struggling. Keep in mind that the government played no part in the creation of any of these initiatives, as all were undertaken by private charities and individuals.
While this example of Braess’s paradox is less concrete than those we have explored in class (we can empirically find the difference in the time it takes to get from point A to point B, but it is hard to say whether the sexual well-being helpline, for example, would have been started in the absence of lockdowns), I see this specific example as a valuable case study. In our traffic problems, people saw the creation of new roads and decided to start using them more. In the case of India’s Covid-19 shutdown, people saw that routine governmental health services would be shut down and hence decided to create their own. Essentially, the Indian people and various foundations established a collective understanding that they should expect very little from the government. Thus, despite the lockdowns, the overall number of multiple services actually increased.
Conversely, imagine what we expect to happen once Covid-19 is no longer an immediate threat and its short-term effects have been severely diminished. The answer to this question will provide us with the validity of Braess’s paradox in this situation. In my personal opinion, I expect there to be a reduction in health and well-being services as private businesses and the government resume normal operations. However, I see why someone would argue that private charities would continue operating due to their effectiveness throughout the pandemic.
Source: https://www.fairobserver.com/region/central_south_asia/anuraag-saxena-india-covid-19-pandemic-community-response-news-18177/