A report from a collective of scholars primarily associated to the College of Management of Technology at Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne leaded by Gaétan de Rassenfosse and Dominique Foray.
It provides a reading of current real-world developments using economic reasoning and relying on existing economic research.
In the main conclusions they remind that "the STI policy response cannot be limited to the urgent need for ‘technological fixes.’ A second line of response involves the production of new knowledge to prevent outbreaks (ex-ante) or mitigate their effects (ex-post). Furthermore, the current crisis is a reminder that all branches of science matter. The pandemic has many facets, and a significant number of scientific disciplines can contribute to dealing with it. We conclude with a forward-looking note, arguing that the most substantial impact of the pandemic may lie outside of the public health realm or the science system. It offers a unique opportunity to adapt the set of rules that govern our society".

Download the report: https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/osfsocarx/b5zae.htm