The pandemic gave us a sandbox for real-world trials

Source: Live mint

Synopsis: Covid-mandated testing on everything from ecological systems to BPO laws has generated valuable information.

Introduction 

The impacts of noise on sea life have been studied by marine scientists. The sound of onboard motors can affect fish feeding habits and cause migratory patterns to shift at sea. The solar hum of container ships has become so widespread that researchers are concerned that entire kinds of aquatic critters have been rendered silent.

• The Covid pandemic resulted in a significant drop in marine traffic. For scientists, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assess the extent to which sound has harmed marine life.
• Early findings from these researches appear to show that noise levels have been reduced by more than half in various regions around the world. It allows large animals to inhabit more of the ocean than they might otherwise have been capable of. 

What were the findings of these real-world experiments?

Scientists have been presented with the ideal natural experiment due to the pandemic. Marine biologists, conservationists, environmental scientists, and seismologists have seized the opportunity to experiment and the results have been astounding.

• Firstly, during citywide lockdowns, pollution scientists observed a significant reduction in atmospheric pollution. It was particularly in large metropolitan cities such as Mumbai (40 percent reduction in the particulate matter) and New Delhi (70 percent reduction in NO2 levels). This accurately measured the impact of human activities on the environment.
• Secondly, seismologists were able to exploit the lack of human disturbance to create baseline noise levels for the natural environment. It allows them to identify low magnitude occurrences such as minor earthquakes and landslides more accurately. 
• Thirdly, wildlife experts discovered that a number of animals formerly assumed to be nocturnal were actually diurnal. They were venturing out during the day in the absence of human activities.

What were the other regulatory experiments?

The epidemic has provided an opportunity to conduct regulatory experiments. National and municipal governments were forced to ease various limitations that had been in place for decades. 

• Firstly, regulations that prohibited restaurants from delivering cocktails were relaxed during the pandemic. Customers could pick cocktails along with takeaway orders. Food delivery businesses delivered alcoholic beverages along with food orders in more than 30 states across the United States.
  • These prohibitions have been in place since prohibition and were designed to limit the unlicensed drinking of alcohol. Officials in many states are considering making these exemptions permanent, as the business benefits outweigh the potential dangers.
• Secondly, regulations preventing telemedicine in the United States had to be eased in order for patients to consult doctors they could not physically meet. This is likely to be permanent. 
• Thirdly, in India, lockdown compelled business process outsourcing firms to shift from providing services in-office to have workers work from home. It became the dominant method of carrying out BPO operations. 
  • After six months of allowing BPO staff to work from home, it was clear to all that the regulator’s early concerns were unwarranted. Work from home would not result in a widespread toll bypass, as had been expected.
  • On the contrary, it allowed BPO businesses to make better use of their staff and contemplate expanding their operations into the country’s exhausted II and tired III towns.
• Lastly, the Indian government proposed major modifications to its OSP legislation in November 2020, giving its remote work liberalisation a permanent stamp. The rules were liberalised even further a few weeks ago.

Suggestions

• Empirical policy formulation is required. Using a regulatory sandbox, an environment in which restrictions can be relaxed for a limited time and under certain conditions will help us to be more careful in policy design. 
• The pandemic compelled us to develop restrictions in the sandbox. We should make this a permanent practise.