Assessing the impact of macroeconomic uncertainties on bank stability: Insights from ASEAN-8 countries.

This research examines the effect of economic uncertainties on bank stability in ASEAN-8 countries. We use estimations with fixed effects for a panel dataset of bank stability, bank characteristics, banking system characteristics, and macroeconomic uncertainties from 2010 to 2020. Geopolitical risk (GPR), economic policy uncertainty (EPU), climate policy uncertainty (CPU), world pandemic uncertainty (WPU), global supply chain pressure (GSCP), and monetary policy uncertainty (MPU) are used as proxies for economic uncertainty (MU) in this research. We find that although an increase in macroeconomic uncertainties weakens bank stability, GPR is positively related to bank stability. An alternative measurement of bank stability, endogenous tests, and quantile regression corroborate our primary findings. Further analyses focus on the heterogeneous influence of macroeconomic uncertainties on bank stability with diversified bank specifics and the country's financial openness. Our paper supplies deep insights for bank managers and macro policymakers in the ASEAN region relevant to the effect of macroeconomic uncertainties on bank stability. Most crucially, experimental results from this research enrich a wealth of knowledge about the regional banking industry's stability; they are the basis for the establishment of bank strategies and macroprudential policies geared to managing the increased macro-unpredictability.

The correlation between liver fibrosis and the 10-year estimated risk of cardiovascular disease in adults with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

Background and Aims: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) emerged as a novel term replacing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in 2020. While most MAFLD patients are asymptomatic, long-term hepatic fat accumulation may lead to liver fibrosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, the relationship between MAFLD and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the 10-year estimated CVD risk in individuals diagnosed with MAFLD. Methods: Between January 2022 and August 2023, this cross-sectional study enrolled 139 MAFLD patients. We employed the systematic coronary risk evaluation 2 (SCORE2) and the systematic coronary risk evaluation 2-older persons (SCORE2-OP) scoring systems to evaluate and categorize the 10-year CV risk. Liver fibrosis was assessed using biochemical parameters (FIB-4, AST/ALT, and APRI), and their correlation with CV risk was examined. Results: Most MAFLD patients were categorized as having high or very high CV risk based on the SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP. Liver fibrosis, measured by the FIB-4 score, significantly differed among the various CV risk groups. Moreover, FIB-4 correlated positively with SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP (r = 0.588, p < 0.001), indicating its substantial predictive ability for identifying individuals at very high CV risk (AUC = 0.765, 95% CI: 0.686-0.845, p < 0.001). A FIB-4 score of 1.275 demonstrated 81% sensitivity and 64% specificity in predicting very high CV risk among MAFLD patients. Conclusion: Patients with MAFLD predominantly face high or very high CV risks, with elevated liver fibrosis associated with increased 10-year estimated CVD risk. The FIB-4 score exhibits promising predictive value for identifying MAFLD patients at very high risk of CV disease.

Evaluation of the relationship between left atrial stiffness, left ventricular stiffness, and left atrioventricular coupling index in type 2 diabetes patients: a speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are a leading cause of mortality and disability in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Moreover, DM can directly impact the structure and function of cardiac muscle. We conducted a study to evaluate cardiac stiffness in DM patients in both the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV), as well as to assess the impact of DM on the synchronization of the LA and LV, particularly within the Vietnamese population, utilizing speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods: We studied 111 research subjects divided into two groups comprising 52 patients with DM and 59 healthy individuals. All the subjects provided relevant clinical information, and echocardiography was performed to assess the indices of LA stiffness, LV stiffness, and left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI). Results: Our study indicated that DM patients exhibited greater LA and LV stiffness than control patients. The LACI (%) in the DM group was also greater than that in the control group (17.12% ± 6.72% vs. 12.28% ± 3.96%, respectively; p < 0.001). The LACI was positively correlated with the LA and LV stiffness indices. Decreased levels of LV GLS, adjusted for age, sex, blood pressure, and BMI, have emerged as identified risk factors for DM. Conclusions: LA stiffness, LV stiffness, and the LACI are greater in DM patients than in normal individuals.

Efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bimekizumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody targeting both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, could be effective for treating Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the management of PsA. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search by August 2023 was performed through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. investigating the efficacy or safety data of bimekizumab in the treatment of PsA. Data was pooled using the random-effects models. Egger tests were used to evaluate potential publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 4 RCTs, involving 892 PsA patients and 467 placebo controls, were included in this analysis. Bimekizumab significantly increased the rates of PASI75 and PASI100 compared with placebos [RR = 7.22, 95% CI (5.24, 9.94), p < 0.001; RR = 10.12, 95% CI (6.00, 17.09), p < 0.001]. The rate of overall adverse events was slightly higher in the bimekizumab group [RR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.05, 1.93) p = 0.023). However, there were fewer adverse severe drug reactions in the bimekizumab group compared to the placebo. CONCLUSION: Bimekizumab had a significant clinical benefit in managing PsA and an acceptable safety profile.

Evaluating left atrial function changes by speckle tracking echocardiography in type 2 diabetes patients in Central Vietnam: a cross-sectional comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder that detrimentally affects multiple systems in the body, with a particular emphasis on the vascular and nervous systems. Despite its significant impact, limited studies have explored the influence of this condition on the left atrial (LA) function. To address this gap, our study utilized speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to assess LA function in patients with T2DM in Central Vietnam. RESULTS: The cross-sectional comparative study enrolled 134 subjects involving 66 patients with T2DM and 68 healthy individuals meeting the selection and exclusion criteria of the study. In our study, healthy individuals demonstrated higher values for LA reservoir strain (LASr), LA conduit strain (LAScd), and LA contractile strain (LASct), measuring 38.75% ± 5.43%, 19.58% ± 5.91%, and 19.16% ± 4.98%, respectively. In contrast, the T2DM group exhibited lower values for LASr, LAScd, and LASct, which measured 31.2% ± 4.56%, 14.77% ± 6.3%, and 16.36% ± 4.82%, respectively (p < 0.05). T2DM patients with normal LA volume index (LAVI) and normal left ventricular mass index (LVMI), LASr, LAScd, and LASct results were 32.07% ± 5.28%, 16.28% ± 6.95%, and 15.64% ± 5.32%. respectively. CONCLUSIONS: STE of the LA reveals a noteworthy reduction in reservoir, conduit, and contractile functions within the T2DM group when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, these impaired functions persist in T2DM patients even in the absence of increased LAVI and LVMI.

Two new earthworm species of the genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Annelida, Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae) from the Southeast region, Vietnam.

Two new earthworm species, namely Amynthas rarus sp. nov. and Amynthas tayninhensis sp. nov., are described from Tay Ninh Province, southeastern Vietnam. Amynthas rarus sp. nov. is recognized by having male pores in xix, two pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7/8, and genital markings paired in vii, viii, 18/19, and 19/20. Amynthas tayninhensis sp. nov. is distinguished by having a pair of spermathecal pores in 5/6, numerous genital markings in transverse lines in 17/18 including three surrounding male pores, and spermatheca with fully developed diverticula. The COI fragments are also provided for those two new species.

Association of clinical factors with thrombocytopenia in patients receiving linezolid treatment: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Linezolid (LZD) plays an important role in the treatment of severe infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Thrombocytopenia is regarded as one of the most common side effects of linezolid, which results from the destruction of platelets or myelosuppression. The study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the development of thrombocytopenia in Vietnamese patients. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on adult patients who received parenteral LZD therapy (1,200 mg/day) in at least 3 days between January 2020 and June 2021 at a tertiary referral hospital in Vietnam. Thrombocytopenia was defined as either a final platelet count of less than 100 G/L or a 25% decrease in platelet count from baseline. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to predict risk factors associated with LZD-induced thrombocytopenia. RESULTS: In the 208 patients included in the study, the average age was 69 and males accounted for 73.1%. LZD-induced thrombocytopenia occurred in 37% of patients. LZD-induced thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with shock (HR = 8.26, 95% CI 3.82 - 17.84, p < 0.001), baseline creatinine clearance (HR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.01 - 1.03], p = 0.002), and duration of LZD treatment of at least 14 days (HR = 4.45, 95% CI [1.83 - 11.05], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that thrombocytopenia was fairly common in patients using linezolid. Shock, renal failure, and duration of linezolid therapy of at least 14 days were significant risk factors for the incidence of linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia.

Enhancing Amplification in Compliant Mechanisms: Optimization of Plastic Types and Injection Conditions.

This study surveys the impacts of injection parameters on the deformation rate of the injected flexure hinge made from ABS, PP, and HDPE. The flexure hinges are generated with different filling time, filling pressure, filling speed, packing time, packing pressure, cooling time, and melt temperature. The amplification ratio of the samples between different injection parameters and different plastic types is measured and compared to figure out the optimal one with a high amplification ratio. The results show that the relationship between the input and output data of the ABS, PP, and HDPE flexure hinges at different injection molding parameters is a linear relation. Changing the material or many injection molding parameters of the hinge could lead to a great impact on the hinge's performance. However, changing each parameter does not lead to a sudden change in the input and output values. Each plastic material has different optimal injection parameters and displacement behaviors. With the ABS flexure hinge, the filling pressure case has the greatest amplification ratio of 8.81, while the filling speed case has the lowest value of 4.81. With the optimal injection parameter and the input value of 105 µm, the ABS flexure hinge could create a maximum average output value of 736.6 µm. With the PP flexure hinge, the melt temperature case achieves the greatest amplification ratio of 6.73, while the filling speed case has the lowest value of 4.1. With the optimal injection parameter and the input value of 128 µm, the PP flexure hinge could create a maximum average output value of 964.8 µm. The average amplification ratio values of all injection molding parameters are 6.85, 5.41, and 4.01, corresponding to ABS, PP, and HDPE flexure hinges. Generally, the ABS flexure hinge has the highest amplification ratios, followed by the PP flexure hinge. The HDPE flexure hinge has the lowest amplification ratios among these plastic types. With the optimal injection parameter and the input value of 218 µm, the HDPE flexure hinge could create a maximum average output value of 699.8 µm. The results provide more insight into plastic flexure hinges and broaden their applications by finding the optimal injection parameters and plastic types.

Outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Experiences from a Vietnamese center.

Backgrounds/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) provides a favorable outcome for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was launched in Vietnam in 2004. In this study, we evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of LT and its risk factors. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed HCC patients who underwent LT at Viet Duc University hospital, Vietnam, from 01/2012-03/2022. The following data were gathered: demographics, virus infection, tumor characteristics, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, Child-Pugh and MELD scores, selection criteria, type of LT, complications, 30-day mortality, and disease-free and overall survival (DFS and OS). Results: Fifty four patients were included, the mean age was 55.39 ± 8.46 years. Nearly 90% had hepatitis B virus-related HCC. The median (interquartile range) AFP level was 16.2 (88.7) ng/mL. The average MELD score was 10.57 ± 5.95; the rate of Child-Pugh A and B were 70.4% and 18.5%, respectively. Nearly 40% of the patients were within Milan criteria, brain-dead donor was 83.3%. Hepatic and portal vein thrombosis occurred in 0% and 1.9%, respectively; hepatic artery thrombosis 1.9%, biliary leakage 5.6%, and postoperative hemorrhage 3.7%. Ninety-day mortality was 5.6%. Five-year DFS and OS were 79.3% and 81.4%, respectively. MELD score and Child-Pugh score were predictive factors for DFS and OS (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, Child-Pugh score was the only significant factor (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In Vietnam, LT is an effective therapy for HCC with an acceptable complication rate, mortality rate, and good survival outcomes, and should be further encouraged.

[Expert consensus on core indicators for lifecycle value assessment of Chinese patent medicine].

The establishment of core indicators for assessment plays an important role in carrying out the lifecycle value assessment of Chinese patent medicine, which are developed based on the concepts such as clinical value oriented, paying attention to the human use experience, and whole process quality control. To this end, the Specialty Committee of Data Monitoring and Decision Making of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies organized experts to draft the Expert Consensus on Core Indicators for Lifecycle Value Assessment of Chinese Patent Medicine based on the research including Chinese Medicine Registration Review Evidence System in Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, Human Use Experience, and Clinical Trials(GZY-FJS-2022-206) by National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This consensus proposed 92 core indicators from four stages, including new drug R&D project approval, pre-clinical research, new drug marketing authorization, and post-marketing, combining the assessment purposes and needs of different stakeholders from different dimensions such as clinical needs, clinical positioning, human use experience, effectiveness, safety, quality control, innovation, accessibility, and suitability. This consensus also interpreted the indicators to clearly elucidate the core elements of the value assessment of Chinese patent medicine in different R&D stages and guided the stakeholders to identify, analyze, and assess the value of Chinese patent medicine in the R&D and use process based on the core indicators in a scientific, objective, and standardized approach. This consensus is expected to play an important role in the high-quality new drug development, drug pricing and compensation of Chinese patent medicine, the development of clinical pathways, and rational clinical application.

Do refugees with better mental health better integrate? Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey.

Hardly any evidence exists on the effects of mental distress on refugee labor outcomes. We offer the first study on this topic in the context of Australia, one of the host countries with the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. Analyzing the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey, we exploit the variations in traumatic experiences of refugees interacted with post-resettlement time periods to causally identify the impacts of refugee mental health. We find that worse mental health, as measured by a one-standard-deviation increase in the Kessler mental health score, reduces the probability of employment by 11.9% and labor income by 22.8%. These effects appear more pronounced for refugees that newly arrive or are without social networks, but they may be ameliorated with government support. These findings have significant implications for the development of health and labor policies, particularly regarding the integration of refugees within host countries.

Characterization of Shigella flexneri in northern Vietnam in 2012-2016.

Introduction: Shigellosis remains a considerable public health concern in developing countries. Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei are prevalent worldwide and S. sonnei has been replacing S. flexneri . Gap Statement: S. flexneri still causes outbreaks of shigellosis in northern Vietnam but limited information is available on its genetic characteristics. Aim: This study aimed to characterize the genetic characteristics of S. flexneri strains from northern Vietnam. Methodology: This study used 17 isolates from eight incidents, collected in northern Vietnam between 2012 and 2016. The samples were subjected to whole genome sequencing, molecular serotyping, cluster analysis and identification of antimicrobial resistance genes. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis was performed including isolates from previous studies. Results: Clusters were identified according to spatiotemporal backgrounds. The results suggested that two incidents in Yen Bai province in 2015 and 2016 were derived from a very recent common ancestor. All isolates belonged to phylogroup (PG) 3, which was divided into two sub-lineages. Thirteen of 17 isolates, including those from the Yen Bai incidents, belonged to sub-lineage Sub-1 and were serotyped as 1a. The remaining four isolates belonged to sub-lineage Sub-2 and were the globally predominant serotype 2a. The Sub-1 S. flexneri isolates possessed the gtrI gene, which encodes the glycosyl transferase that determines serotype 1a, with bacteriophage elements in the vicinity. Conclusion: This study revealed two PG3 sub-lineages of S. flexneri in northern Vietnam, of which Sub-1 might be specific to the region.

Solving optimization problems simultaneously: the variants of the traveling salesman problem with time windows using multifactorial evolutionary algorithm.

We studied two problems called the Traveling Repairman Problem (TRPTW) and Traveling Salesman Problem (TSPTW) with time windows. The TRPTW wants to minimize the sum of travel durations between a depot and customer locations, while the TSPTW aims to minimize the total time to visit all customers. In these two problems, the deliveries are made during a specific time window given by the customers. The difference between the TRPTW and TSPTW is that the TRPTW takes a customer-oriented view, whereas the TSPTW is server-oriented. Existing algorithms have been developed for solving two problems independently in the literature. However, the literature does not have an algorithm that simultaneously solves two problems. Multifactorial Evolutionary Algorithm (MFEA) is a variant of the Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), aiming to solve multiple factorial tasks simultaneously. The main advantage of the approach is to allow transferrable knowledge between tasks. Therefore, it can improve the solution quality for multitasks. This article presents an efficient algorithm that combines the MFEA framework and Randomized Variable Neighborhood Search (RVNS) to solve two problems simultaneously. The proposed algorithm has transferrable knowledge between tasks from the MFEA and the ability to exploit good solution space from RVNS. The proposed algorithm is compared directly to the state-of-the-art MFEA on numerous datasets. Experimental results show the proposed algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art MFEA in many cases. In addition, it finds several new best-known solutions.

Estimating the cost of illness of acute Japanese encephalitis and sequelae care in Vietnam and Laos: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of acute encephalitis syndrome and resulting neurological disability in Asia and the Western Pacific. This study aims to estimate the cost of acute care, initial rehabilitation and sequelae care, in Vietnam and Laos. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study using a micro-costing approach from the health system and household perspectives. Out-of-pocket direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect costs, and family impact were reported by patients and/or caregivers. Hospitalization costs were extracted from hospital charts. Acute costs covered expenditures from pre-hospital to follow-up visits while sequelae care costs were estimated from expenditures in the last 90 days. All costs are in 2021 US dollars. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 242 patients in two major sentinel sites in the North and South of Vietnam and 65 patients in a central hospital in Vientiane, Laos, with laboratory-confirmed JE were recruited regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. In Vietnam, the mean total cost was $3,371 per acute JE episode (median $2,071, standard error [SE] $464) while annual costs were $404 for initial sequelae care (median $0, SE $220) and $320 for long-term sequelae care (median $0, SE $108). In Laos, the mean hospitalization costs in acute stage were $2,005 (median $1,698, SE $279) and the mean annual costs were $2,317 (median $0, SE $2,233) for initial sequelae care and $89 (median $0, SE $57) for long-term sequelae care. In both countries, most patients did not seek care for their sequelae. Families perceived extreme impact from JE and 20% to 30% of households still had sustained debts years after acute JE. CONCLUSIONS: JE patients and families in Vietnam and Laos suffer extreme medical, economic, and social hardship. This has policy implications for improving JE prevention in these two JE-endemic countries.

Statistical performance indicators and index-a new tool to measure country statistical capacity.

Strong statistical capacity is a prerequisite for producing reliable statistics that helps monitor a country's governance and economic performance. This is particularly relevant for a large number of poorer countries, which have weaker statistical capacity but have to rely more on these statistics for various objectives such as monitoring poverty reduction or reporting to international donors. We present the Statistical Performance Indicators and Index (SPI) as the World Bank's new official tool to measure country statistical capacity. The SPI is conceptually motivated, builds on a mathematical foundation, and significantly expands the number of indicators and the number of covered countries compared to its predecessor. The new index has a strong correlation with other common development indicators such as GDP per capita, governance, human capital, poverty, and inequality. It can also accommodate future improvements as the global data landscape evolves.

Is Climate Change Slowing the Urban Escalator Out of Poverty? Evidence from Chile, Colombia, and Indonesia.

While urbanization has great potential to facilitate poverty reduction, climate shocks represent a looming threat to such upward mobility. This paper empirically analyzes the effects of climatic risks on the function of urban agglomerations to support poor households' escape from poverty. Combining household surveys with climatic datasets, our analyses of Chile, Colombia, and Indonesia find that households in large metropolitan areas are more likely to escape from poverty, indicating better access to economic opportunities in those areas. However, climate shocks such as extreme rainfalls and high flood risks significantly reduce upward mobility, thus offsetting such benefits of urban agglomerations. The findings underscore the need to enhance resilience among the urban poor to allow them to fully utilize the benefits of urban agglomerations.

Septic arthritis and subsequent fatal septic shock caused by Pasteurella multocida in Vietnam.

Pasteurella multocida is a facultative anaerobic and gram-negative bacteria. It lives in the upper airway of animals, especially dogs and cats. P. multocida infection commonly results in regional cellulitis, although septic shock complication is uncommon. Here, we report on a fatal case of septic shock developing from a natural knee joint infection.

Did a successful fight against COVID-19 come at a cost? Impacts of the pandemic on employment outcomes in Vietnam.

Despite its low middle-income status, Vietnam has been widely praised for its success in the fight against early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a low mortality rate of approximately 100 deaths out of a population of less than 100 million by the end of 2020. We add to the emerging literature on COVID-19 effects on the labor market for poorer countries by analyzing rich individual-level data from Vietnam's Labor Force Surveys spanning 2015 to 2020. We find post-pandemic increases in unemployment and temporary layoff rates alongside decreases in employment quality. Monthly wages declined even as the proportion of workers receiving below-minimum wages substantially increased, contributing to sharply rising wage inequality. Our findings suggest that more resources should be allocated to protect vulnerable workers, especially as the pandemic continues to cause increasingly severe damage to the global economy.

Understanding the COVID-19 Infodemic: Analyzing User-Generated Online Information During a COVID-19 Outbreak in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: Online misinformation has reached unprecedented levels during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study analyzed the magnitude and sentiment dynamics of misinformation and unverified information about public health interventions during a COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang, Vietnam, between July and September 2020. METHODS: We analyzed user-generated online information about five public health interventions during the Da Nang outbreak. We compared the volume, source, sentiment polarity, and engagements of online posts before, during, and after the outbreak using negative binomial and logistic regression, and assessed the content validity of the 500 most influential posts. RESULTS: Most of the 54,528 online posts included were generated during the outbreak (n = 46,035; 84.42%) and by online newspapers (n = 32,034; 58.75%). Among the 500 most influential posts, 316 (63.20%) contained genuine information, 10 (2.00%) contained misinformation, 152 (30.40%) were non-factual opinions, and 22 (4.40%) contained unverifiable information. All misinformation posts were made during the outbreak, mostly on social media, and were predominantly negative. Higher levels of engagement were observed for information that was unverifiable (incidence relative risk [IRR] = 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-0.62), posted during the outbreak (before: IRR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.07-0.35; after: IRR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34-0.63), and with negative sentiment (IRR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.23-2.75). Negatively toned posts were more likely to be misinformation (odds ratio [OR] = 9.59; 95% CI, 1.20-76.70) or unverified (OR = 5.03; 95% CI, 1.66-15.24). CONCLUSIONS: Misinformation and unverified information during the outbreak showed clustering, with social media being particularly affected. This indepth assessment demonstrates the value of analyzing online "infodemics" to inform public health responses.

Inequality and support for government responses to COVID-19.

Despite a deep literature studying the impact of inequality on policy outcomes, there has been limited effort to bring these insights into the debates about comparative support for government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We fill this gap by analyzing rich survey data at the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020 from six countries spanning different income levels and geographical locations-China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We find that poorer individuals are less supportive of government responses. Furthermore, poorer individuals residing in more economically unequal countries offer even less government support. We also find that both economic and non-economic factors could affect the poor's decisions to support stringent government policies. These findings suggest that greater transfers to the poor may offer an option to help increase support for strict policies and may reduce the potential deepening of social inequalities caused by the pandemic.