SARS防治无效成本的制度经济学反思

2002年底SARS在中国的首度出现有一定的偶然性,但2003年在中国的大面积爆发与蔓延却有着一定的必然性。中国在防治SARS过程中出现了大量的无效成本,这本质上是我国经济转型和改革开放以来经济社会发展目标和实施过程中的失误和偏颇的集中反映,是制度性失误的成本。在现有制度约束下,政府、企业和居民等主体的不当行为直接生成了现实的无效成本。以SARS事件为鉴,我们应重新审视中国经济社会发展的路径选择。从转变政府职能切入,重构现存的公共卫生制度和危机管理制度应该是后SARS时期政策改革的着力点。

Institutional Analysis of Inefficient Cost for SARS Prevention

As a typical emergency in public health, the outbreak of SARS incurred huge inefficient cost, which resulted from the mistakes we made during Chinese economic development and transition. It is a cost of institutional mistake in essence. Within boundariess of present system, the improper actions taken by the government, businesses and the residents involved result in the real inefficient cost. Therefore, drawing on the lessons from SARS, we should reform our policy, beginning with the shift of government functions, and reconstruct the institution of public health and emergency management.