Trade-offs in policy centralisation and decentralisation - broadly contemplated in times of crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic returned to centre stage an important policy trade-off – the one between centralisation and decentralisation. Should there be a central, one-size fits all policy response in times of crisis? Or should there be a more grassroots, devolved policy response? The present contribution tackles the question positively rather than normatively, and points out, in telegraphic rather than in a full-blown missive form, how the answer to this question presents more facets than conventionally thought. The key is to try to hold as clear a picture as possible about both the idiosyncratic context faced and the nature of the policy problem that one attempts to solve; while the former is usually considered, the latter is seldom. But both ought to be considered. Even though the key is cut with illustrations from the current pandemic, its insights can be applied to other crises.