Slovakia and the Slovak Local Governments Response to COVID‑19 Challenges

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify critical factors in success/failure of Slovak public policies focusing on fighting the spread of COVID‑19 pandemic. It uses a review of secondary research and data available in regulations of the national government, data published by governmental bodies, international statistics, and media articles published before March 31, 2021. The results suggest that the timing of public policy responses and success in motivating compliance may be critical factors in preventing the pandemic. The current COVID‑19 research focuses on epidemiologic and macro-­level socioeconomic aspects and only marginally covers the impact on local budgets. Our intention is to enrich the existing limited debate on this dimension by discussing and assessing what has already happened and what may happen in local public finance in Slovakia, and to analyse the 'effectiveness' of local governments’ response to COVID‑19. Besides, some measures might have had a disproportionate negative impact on human rights, which we review by focusing on the Roma community. Although the Slovak state authorities and local governments have taken a range of measures with the aim to prevent the spread of COVID, including its spread in marginalis ed Roma communities, their response in this regard has raised serious concerns. A better coordinated approach at all levels manifested in improved communication between national government, regions, and municipalities is vital to implement measures taken against the spread of the virus.