What does economics have to do with sleep? A lot it turns out. Inadequate sleep is a major cause of ill health and loss of productivity in modern economies. A recent Australian report put that cost at 4% of gross domestic product. Economic principles can also be used to help with getting people to take up effective sleep treatments. The relatively new discipline of behavioural economics can teach us a lot about designing systems to promote healthy choices including around sleep.
For many, COVID-19 infection triggers debilitation ongoing symptoms including fatigue, cardiac and respiratory symptoms. Long COVID is now a significant issue that needs research to understand and develop treatments.