(29): The Economics of Facemask
MA Iliasu. No sooner than two hours into the Eid that my head began to think about the possible economic behaviors that can be milked out of the Eid protocols, their implications and moral validity. Not that during the Holy month I couldn't think about it. Only that the Eid allowed me a chance to clearly remember the year when we observed our prayers in a heavily monitored Covid-19 protocols. And the fact that I can remember the event means I remember when one of my close acquaintances speculated about using the then standard procedure of having to use a facemask, as an opportunity to get a heavenly reward, by donating it's large quantities to the major mosques and dominant streets of Kano. Which doubtlessly was a kindly-intentioned gesture that would save large population of economic agents some chunk of money. As a matter of fact, I don't know if he did. And as a brother, I wish he did, for surely he would do with more good deeds. But as an economist, I am speculating th...