Abstract
In this Briefing we detail findings in our recent journal publication on whether a vigorous, proactive response to the Covid-19 pandemic was associated with better or worse key health and macroeconomic outcomes. We found that among the high-income (OECD) island nations, those which used a more proactive strategic response to Covid-19 (such as in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand who proactively used exclusion and elimination strategies), generally experienced better health and macroeconomic outcomes compared to those which relied on suppression/mitigation strategies. Therefore, when faced with the threat of a severe pandemic, island nations should consider such exclusion and elimination strategies.