I sistemi federali di Germania e Austria alla prova dell’emergenza pandemica

The federal systems of Germany and Austria and the challenges of the pandemic emergency – Both Germany and Austria have, on the whole and with differences in detail, coped relatively well with the impact of the pandemic crisis. This refers to the increased mortality rate due to Covid-19 and to the reaction of their healthcare systems. This article illustrates the respective reaction of the two federal systems to the pandemic. It shall ascertain whether the federal system, and more specifically decentralisation in the area of health policy, was an obstacle or an advantage in dealing with a pandemic such as Covid 19. Of particular interest is the question of whether the pandemic crisis led to a centralisation of powers or left room for differentiated policies in the Länder.