Democracy and populism in the COVID-19 pandemic:

from perverse effects on health to controversial ones in the economy

Abstract

In May 2023, the end of the global emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, which recorded over 700,000 deaths in Brazil alone. Its effects in general are still being calculated, but some research indicate that the behavior of the Federal Government was crucial to this scenario, as it was not efficient in stopping the spread of the virus and its results. However, although the effects of the pandemic are comprehensive and differentiated, new diagnoses are necessary. Inserted in this context, this article discusses democracy and populism in the pandemic, focusing on the “perverse” effects on health and the controversial effects on the economy. Considering this approach, data survey and analysis techniques were adopted in the qualitative scope. In view of the above, the results obtained highlighted the populism and subterfuges of the Federal Government in the face of health recommendations, as well as, counter-intuitively, an increase in the Brazilian state's revenues.