The Political Scar of Epidemics

What political legacy is bequeathed by national health crises such as epidemics? We show that epidemic exposure in an individual’s “impressionable years” (ages 18 to 25) has a persistent negative effect on confidence institutions and leaders. The specific the impressionable ages, observed only for leaders, does not carry over other individuals with one key exception. That exception strong effects public systems, suggesting loss of leaders associated (in)effectiveness government’s healthcare-related responses past epidemics. document this mechanism, showing weak governments took longer introduce policy interventions response COVID-19 outbreak, demonstrating trust larger who experienced epidemics under governments. Finally, we report evidence epidemic-induced may discourage electoral participation long term.