Publications
Publications
- 2023
The Political Economy of a 'Miracle Cure': The Case of Nebulized Ibuprofen and Its Diffusion in Argentina
By: Sebastian Calónico, Rafael Di Tella and Juan Cruz Lopez Del Valle
Abstract
We document the diffusion of nebulized ibuprofen in Argentina as a treatment for COVID-19. As the pandemic spread, this clinically unsupported drug reached thousands of patients, even some seriously ill, despite warnings by the regulator and medical societies. Detailed daily data on deliveries for all towns in one of the largest provinces suggests a role for “rational” forces in the adoption of a miracle cure: towns adopt it when neighbors that adopt it are successful in containing deaths (a learning effect), even after controlling for the average adoption of peers. Results from a survey are consistent with learning. They also reveal a large role of beliefs: subjects that are classified as “Right” are more likely adopt and to learn, while those that are “Skeptical” report an increase in their demand when primed with the regulator’s ban.
Keywords
COVID-19; Health Care and Treatment; Health Pandemics; Adoption; Behavior; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Learning
Citation
Calónico, Sebastian, Rafael Di Tella, and Juan Cruz Lopez Del Valle. "The Political Economy of a 'Miracle Cure': The Case of Nebulized Ibuprofen and Its Diffusion in Argentina." NBER Working Paper Series, No. 31781, October 2023.