This week on CNE health I talk about compensation for putting people into quarantine. It seems to be the rational, moral thing to do. Given the international nature of epidemics there are also reasons for people in countries that practice such compensation to promote it elsewhere too, or contribute to organisations that perform it.
Long ago I blogged about the game theory of the common cold, showing that days without sick pay increase the overall likelihood of the disease spreading. Fining people who come sick to work, or rewarding people who stay home (or at least take precautions to reduce infection) might be a rational way to improve the utility of everyone. So maybe compensation for quarantine should be extended to other situations?
Posted by Anders3 at July 12, 2007 03:56 PM