Who Should be in Charge of Pandemics? Scientists or Politicians?

Liberals always complained that populist politicians ignore scientists and science. However, since the outbreak of the pandemics our lives seem to be in the hands of scientists more than politicians. Should we rejoice that Trump, Kaczyński or Johnson seem no longer in charge? This chapter will argue that there is no simple answer to this question. Economists suggest different solutions than medical doctors and they all work on the basis of patchy evidence. Some of them have murky relations with either governments or firms or both. And in democracy we want to know that those in charge are elected and accountable. This is the case with politicians, however imperfect - but not with their scientific advisors.