On the Economics of Pandemics: Socioeconomic Consequences for Transport

A comparative analysis of three pandemics was conducted: the Spanish flu (1918–1920), the Asian flu (1957–1958), and the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2023). It was found that during pandemics, many economic sectors face increasing challenges. During the first stage, the main impact is expressed in the suspension of movement, restrictions on domestic and international tourism, and a decrease in trade activity due to reduced consumption and changes in the structure of demand. During the second stage, production is reduced and economic growth slows. The third stage is characterized by a global economic crisis. The recovery from the pandemic is protracted. These problems are examined using the example of one of the industries most vulnerable to crisis phenomena – transportation. The study identified key characteristics of pandemics: scale and speed of spread. Moreover, these characteristics directly depend on the socioeconomic development of countries, the level of globalization, the quantity and quality of international supply chains, and the development of global transport infrastructure. The study also revealed that the development and diversity of transport networks influences the speed of interregional and international spread of the virus, and determines the scale of the pandemic and the overall damage to society and the country’s economy.