Thinking an economic argument or business financial incentives will save us is hopium. I’m concerned that many people wrongly believe that there’s an “economic argument” that can “get through” to the business sector on disease prevention. This seems to make sense at first, because it should make sense. But it doesn’t work that way. These industries are led by people who regularly run things into the ground and then eject in their golden parachutes, decade after decade through booms and busts. The subprime housing crisis. Big tobacco. The airplane debacles. The tech hype. The automotive industry went after Ralph Nader with stalking and honey traps just because they didn’t want anyone to demand seat belts. Fossil fuel hires military mercenary outfits to remove opposition to poisoning people’s drinking water.
There’s not an economic argument that’s going to get industry to do the right thing on virus prevention or treatment, or convince them it’s in their interest to take care of human health. They don’t care — because industries and wealthy tycoons often make the most money during times of greatest human suffering.
The problem may look financial, but it is political. It’s a political choice. There is no way around this, no way to sweet talk businesses in doing it for their own good. Businesses from grocery stores to airlines will NOT make the right choices for human well-being, even if it would benefit them in the end, and even if the wrong decisions are seemingly hurting right now, because they have other incentives.
We need to pressure for governance solutions.