This book presents an overview of social problems and health problems that arose out of, or were flared up by, the global COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses most vital problems in developed and developing countries from literally around the world, by top country experts in their respective fields of study. The book debates first certain overall thematic topics and then analyzes a number of key country case studies. Apart from a set of key theme/problem-based chapters, the country case studies from major-hit countries in the world are yet another highlight of the book. They also feature, in addition to analyzing the pandemic and policy responses per se, one extra special focal point each. The book hence covers the core of most severe social problems, including health problems, that have been spurred or set off by the COVID-19 pandemic. An overall theory chapter that uses a global data analysis and a short theoretical appraisal on the 'human face' of the Pandemic is also offered at the beginning of book, to bring back humanity and human decency (i.e. decency of the human condition) into the scientific debate as well as policy making arena, which is utterly needed at this point of human development.

Christian Aspalter is the author/editor of over 25 books in Social Policy, including Health Policy. He is one of the leading theorists in social policy, and a leading comparative Health and Social Policy scholar. He is the author of Ten Worlds of Welfare Capitalism: A Global Data Analysis, plus the editor of Financing Welfare State Systems in Asia, Ideal Types in Comparative Social Policy, The Routledge International Handbook to Welfare State Systems (First and Second Editions), and co-editor of Health Care Systems in Developing Countries in Asia, Health Care Systems in Europe and Asia, and Active Aging in Asia. His forthcoming books include e.g. Super Inequality: Theoretical Essays in Economics and Social Policy; and the Elgar Research Encyclopedia of Social Policy.

Introductory and Overarching Theory Part

1. Introduction

2. The Global Inequality Explosion Caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic

Theme Chapters on Social Problems Raised by the Pandemic

3. Socio-Economic and Geographic Inequality of Effects of the Pandemic

4. Failure of Government Response to Ethnic Minorities: The Case of Australian Aboriginal Communities

5. Aging and Long-Term Care Problems During the Pandemic

6. Economic Problems Caused by the Pandemic-The Case of a Developing Country: India

7. Comparing Social Policy Responses Between Separate Crises: Taking the Case of Indonesia

Country Case Study Chapters on the Pandemic Itself (With an Additional Focal Point One Particular Social Problem)

8. The Pandemic in the United Kingdom: With Special Reference to Rising Mental Health Problems

9. The Pandemic in the United States: With Special Reference to Rising 'Deaths of Despair'

10. The Pandemic in Australia: With Special Reference to Suicide in Aboriginal Communities

11. The Pandemic in Mainland China: With Special Reference to Rising Relative Poverty

12. The Pandemic in Taiwan: With Special Reference to Elderly People's Problems

13. The Pandemic in Thailand: With Special Reference to Informal Workers' Problems

14. The Pandemic in Brazil: With Special Reference to Unemployment

15. The Pandemic in Spain: With Special Reference to Child Depriviation

16. The Pandemic in Italy: With Special Reference to Women's and Families' Conditions

17. The Pandemic in Greece: With Special Reference to Women's Employment

18. The Pandemic in Austria: With Special Reference to Migrant Care Workers' Problems

Concluding Part

19. Conclusions