COVID-19 has changed not only human lives since the beginning of the year 2020, but systems of human society as well. Legal measures have been employed in every country to mandate the state’s control of human behavior in order to stop the pandemic. But the mode of legal control has differed by country, showing different results in terms of constraining the spread of infection. While the behavioral restrictions continue, the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic have been causing another catastrophe, particularly in the most vulnerable sectors of each society. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are typical representatives of such vulnerable groups, compelled to assume the economic burdens of the pandemic that have been shifted from the larger economic actors that hold the advantage in contractual negotiations.
Statistical data on infection status have revealed a great gap between countries, such as European nations reaching the level of several thousand deaths per one hundred thousand population, while most Asian countries have maintained a level of one or two digits. Even though COVID-19 affects the whole world, the redistribution of risks in the pandemic is a goal to be pursued in the socio-cultural context of each society.
This book explores the law and social changes in Asian countries under the impact of COVID-19, with a particular focus on the social relations surrounding the SMEs. These form the center of contractual relations between various socio-economic actors and at the same time, are a direct counterpart of the governmental SME policies, peculiar to Asian interventionist governments. A comparative approach is taken, using the results of interview surveys based on structured questions conducted via research collaboration between the contributors from Japan as well as other Asian countries.
A comparative analysis of the risk redistribution in the pandemic between countries that share similar preconditions is still possible and meaningful. The authors of this book hold the view that Asian countries have sufficient bases for international comparison, particularly on the risk reallocation in the SME sector, given the relatively well-controlled level of infection, presumably due to the similarity of cooperative social culture. Another basis for comparison is the similarity of the laws surrounding the business operation of SMEs since normal times, which makes it feasible to compare the difference in the pandemic. What risks should be reallocated between whom, and how?
Author(s): Yuka Kaneko
Series: Kobe University Monograph Series in Social Science Research
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 229
City: Singapore
Introduction
Contents
Editor and Contributors
1 Law and Social Changes in a Pandemic: Results of Survey of COVID-19-Affected SMEs in Kobe, Japan
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Characteristics of the Governmental Response to the COVID-19 in Japan
1.3 Legal System of the Contractual Relations Surrounding SMEs
1.4 Results of the SME Interview Survey
1.5 Results of Interviews with Financial Institutions
1.6 Conclusion
References
2 Disaster Management and COVID-19 Financial Support for SMEs in Korea
2.1 Disaster Management Governance
2.2 Legal Framework of Epidemic Control
2.3 COVID-19 Transmission Management
2.3.1 COVID-19 Management System
2.3.2 Economic Impact Mitigation Measure
2.4 SME Sector Under COVID-19
2.5 Results of SME Sector Survey
2.6 Conclusion
References
3 Public Health or Economic Recovery: Regulatory Choice Against COVID-19 in Indonesia
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Governance of COVID-19 Infection Control
3.2.1 Law and Organizational System of COVID-19 Control
3.2.2 Measures Taken for COVID-19 Infection Control
3.2.3 Measures to Mitigate Economic Impact
3.3 SME Sector Under the Impact of COVID-19
3.3.1 Legal System Surrounding SMEs
3.3.2 Result of SME Sector Survey
3.3.3 Result of Worker Interviews
3.3.4 Result of Bank Interviews
3.4 Discussion
3.5 Conclusion
References
4 Autonomous Adaptation and Governmental Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Philippines
4.1 Introduction
4.2 COVID-19 Situation in the Philippines
4.3 Philippine MSMEs, Disasters, and Resilience
4.4 Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
4.4.1 Policy Bases
4.4.2 COVID-19 Response Strategy
4.4.3 Institutional Arrangements
4.4.4 Economic Support for MSMEs
4.5 Impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs
4.5.1 Perceived Resilience
4.5.2 Issues and Challenges
4.6 MSMEs’ Adaptive Responses to COVID-19
4.6.1 Organizational Support
4.6.2 Management Response
4.6.3 Workers’ Adaptation
4.7 Conclusion and Recommendations
References
5 Balancing Medical Needs and Economy Policy in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Vietnamese Government Response
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Governance of COVID-19 Infection Control
5.2.1 Law and Organizational System of COVID-19 Control
5.2.2 Measures Taken for COVID-19 Infection Control
5.2.3 Measures to Mitigate Economic Impact
5.2.4 Basic Data of Results
5.3 SME Sector Under the Impact of COVID-19
5.3.1 Legal System Surrounding SMEs
5.3.2 Results of SME Sector Survey
5.4 Discussion
References
6 Legal Changes in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Myanmar
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Governance of COVID-19 Infection Control
6.2.1 Law and Organizational System of COVID-19 Control
6.2.2 Measures Taken for COVID-19 Infection Control
6.2.3 Measures to Mitigate Economic Impacts
6.2.4 Basic Data of Results
6.3 SME Sector Under the Impact of COVID-19
6.3.1 Legal System Surrounding SMEs
6.3.2 Results of SME Sector Survey
6.3.3 Results of Workers’ Interview
6.3.4 Results of Banks’ Interview
6.4 Discussion
7 Asian Perspective on the State and Market Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Comparative Perspective on the State Response to Pandemic
7.3 Economic Measures by Governments
7.4 Market Response Toward Risk Reallocation
7.5 Conclusion
References
533949_1_En_7_Chapter_OnlinePDF
Appendix
A.1 Governance Issues of COVID-19 Response
A.1.1 Legal Basis for the COVID-19 Infection Control
A.1.2 Governance Mechanism of the COVID-19 Response
A.1.3 Measures Taken for the Control of COVID-19 Spread
A.1.4 Issues on the Law and Governance Throughout the COVID-19 Response
A.1.5 Institutional Mechanisms for Checking the Government’s COVID-19 Response
A.1.6 International Assistance
A.1.7 SME Support Measures Applied by the Government
A.1.7.1 Support Measures to SMEs
A.1.7.2 Demand-Side Support to Consumers/Workers (Multiple Answers)
A.1.8 Basic Database on the Results of COVID-19 Infection Control
A.1.8.1 COVID-19 Infection Control
A.1.8.2 Economic Status during the COVID-19 Spread
A.1.8.3 Corporate Insolvency During the COVID-19 Spread
A.2 Questions to Banks/Financial Institutions
A.2.1 Characteristics of the Interviewed Banks/Financial Institutions
A.2.2 Governmental Support Effective for the Economy During the COVID-19 Influence
A.2.3 Lending Practice Compared: Normal Time and During COVID-19
A.2.4 Bank Response to Non-performing SMEs Compared: Normal Time and During COVID-19
A.2.5 Bank Choice of Insolvency Procedure Compared: Normal Time and During COVID-19
A.2.6 Tendency of the Business Rehabilitation Cases
A.3 Questionnaire to the SME Managers
A.3.1 Respondents
A.3.2 Governmental Support Effective for the Economy During the COVID-19 Influence
A.3.3 Business Difficulties of SMEs
A.3.4 Employment Relation
A.3.5 Financial Relation
A.4 Questions to Workers
A.4.1 Employment Relation
A.4.2 Discrimination
A.4.3 Governmental Measures
Annex-1: Behavioral Constrains in Korea in Detail
Annex-2: Indonesia Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in Here are 18 Regencies/Cities
Annex-3: New Zealand COVID-19 Alert System
Annex-4: Governmental Support in Korea in Detail
