In this book, economist Orhan Erdem breaks down key social insights from COVID-19 and other pandemics throughout human history. It explores the myriad ways that a global pandemic impacts social structures and communities.

Drawing on examples throughout human history, the book highlights the key insights researchers have gathered and what the public can do to prevent the same disruptive responses in the future. The chapters explore core aspects of social life: healthcare, politics, education, community, and technology. Building on stories from literature and lived experience, the book offers a narrative exploration of how a pandemic’s aftershocks reshape social life, educational systems, public policy, technology, and economies.

Orhan Erdem is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Data Analytics and Statistics at the University of North Texas. Erdem’s work as an economist and data scientist has brought him to Spain, Türkiye, and the United States. He previously directed the research department at Borsa İstanbul. He earned his PhD in economics from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and holds an MA and BS from Boğaziçi University. He is the author of three books, most recently After the Crash (2020), which examines the aftershocks of the 2007–09 Great Recession. His research spans econometrics, machine learning, and generative AI, with a focus on developing and evaluating data-driven models for economic, financial, and clinical decision-making.