Was the COVID-19 Pandemic a Black Swan or White Swan Event?

Financial media followers most likely find it pretty much impossible to go about their day without reading a lot of messages about the "black swan" COVID-19 and its economic repercussions... but was the COVID-19 pandemic actually a black swan event?

It... well, depends on whom you ask.

If you ask Nassim Nicholas Taleb for example, the person who let's say popularized the black swan concept, you'd get a response which points to the exact opposite. More specifically, Taleb himself considers the COVID-19 pandemic a white swan event and has made it more than clear through numerous appearances as well as social media messages that he is sick and tired of individuals who hide behind the term "black swan" so as to somehow make their lack of preparedness excusable.

The more you analyze the pandemic from this perspective, the more reasonable the idea that it should be considered a white swan event becomes. As such, this debate is yet another example of an instance which makes it clear why having a firm grasp on terminology is a must as well as an example which makes it clear that pundits frequently and sometimes collectively make mistakes!

[OneMinuteEconomics]

GiganticWebsites.com is a project through which I make it possible for people to build truly gigantic websites (thousands of articles each!) at ridiculously low prices. If you have a great domain you want to turn into an amazing website or an existing site you'd like to upgrade/scale, visit our website or check out the One Minute Economics presentation video below:


Please note that this comment is not an ad for a third-party service provider. GiganticWebsites.com is my baby 100% and I will personally be involved in each and every project so as to ensure the website turns out great :)

[nathanngumi]

True, the slow snowballing of the coronavirus disease into a pandemic was watched by all, no surprises.
Many countries thought they had a lot of time to get their ducks in a row. They didn't.

[DrexisEbon]

I'd love to see a video on the economics of NOT treating COVID as a threat when it appeared. Would it have actually been better for humanity to just let the world burn?

[Marylandbrony]

While I would say pandemics in general are towards the white swan events (On average a new pathogen of serious concern arises every 5 years). Black Swan could better describe this pandemic it initially seemed like the heavy handed approach towards the virus could have prevented it from leaving China well before gobal spread. Even though it already likely spread much earlier than even January.

[ali-Q-]

Maybe I'm confused but wasn't the rona a white swan event due to the fact that they had event 201 prior to rona even a thing?? Thank you

[patriciaburch]

Black Swan is what rich Dad poor Dad calls it.
Thanks.

[OneMinuteEconomics]

If you liked this video, I think you'll love The Age of Anomaly, my Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling book about preparing for financial calamities (whatever they may involve). You can buy it over at:

[OneMinuteEconomics]

If you liked this video, I think you'll love The Age of Anomaly, my Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling book about preparing for financial calamities (whatever they may involve). You can buy it over at: