The whistle-blower effect vs. the cry-wolf effect: Epidemic information collaboration

What is it about?

The unpredictability of the epidemics caused by new, unknown viruses, combined with differing responsibilities among government departments, often leads to a prisoner’s dilemma in epidemic information governance. In this context, the whistle-blower effect in the health departments leads to delayed reporting to avoid potential retaliation, and the cry-wolf effect in the administrative departments results in sustained observation to avoid ineffective warnings. To address these challenges, we employ game theory to analyze the dynamics of epidemic information governance and focus on two external governance mechanisms—superior accountability and media supervision—that can help resolve the prisoner’s dilemma during and after an outbreak.

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Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash