The Rich Flee and the Poor Take the Bus: How Our Unequal Society Fails Us during Outbreaks

by Troy Tassier

How can we make society more resilient to outbreaks and avoid forcing the poor and working class to bear the brunt of their harm? When an epidemic outbreak occurs, the most physical and financial harm historically falls upon the people who can least afford the economically and socially marginalized. Where people live and work, how they commute and socialize, and more have a huge impact on the risks we bear during an outbreak. In The Rich Flee and the Poor Take the Bus , economist Troy Tassier examines examples ranging from the 430 BCE plague of Athens to the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate why marginalized groups bear the largest burden of epidemic costs―and how to avoid these systemic failures in the future. The links between epidemics and social issues―such as inequality, discrimination, and financial insecurity―are not always direct or clear. Tassier reveals truths hidden in plain sight, from the way population density statistics can be misleading to the often-misunderstood differences between risk and uncertainty. The disproportionate harm experienced by marginalized individuals is not the product of their own decisions; instead, the collective choices of society and the tangled web of interactions across people and communities leave these groups most exposed to the perils of epidemics. However, there is reason to hope. Utilizing a wealth of economic and population data, Tassier argues that we can leverage lessons learned from historic and recent outbreaks to design better economic and social policies and more just institutions to protect everyone in society when inevitable future epidemics arrive.

456 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Tooka Zokaie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive account of infectious disease, especially COVID-19, economic inequities, and a system designed to maintain disease spread in those that have systemic barriers to care. This book had everything: public health theory, history, economics, and epidemiology. It balances the history of disease outbreaks with the lessons learned (or not learned) during the most recent pandemic. I gained a new perspective when thinking about disease spread and our “hubs” or social networks.
This book will remind you that we are more connected than we realize and we have a collective duty to take care of one another. I recommend this to scholars of public health, community design, health economics, and health policy.

[Frederic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a good understanding of infectious disease and economic inequities in periods of outbreak. It combines economics, public policy, public health, history... It also talks about lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing I keep from this reading is that we all have a duty to take care of other people.

[Bridget Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. The fact that it took me over 2 months with my eye/health issues really put a damper on the whole experience sadly. The book was informative, but at times I got lost in between each plague and it was hard to retain the information.
The ending was a good wrap up/reminder, but if I read this again I would have to take notes.

[U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched and poignantly told. Great read!

[Bill Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well informed discussion of how pandemics have always favored the rich. Heavily researched but also filled with human, relatable personal stories.