Coronavirus | Econofact

Work-based Risks to Latino Workers and their Families From COVID-19

By Lisa A. Gennetian and Matthew S. Johnson·May 26, 2020
Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy

The Issue:

The public health emergency brought on by the coronavirus pandemic is putting front and center the health and safety risks that many workers face on a daily basis. Perhaps most salient, some traditionally low-risk occupations like grocery store cashiers are now the workers facing some of the highest

Incarceration and the COVID-19 Crisis

By Jennifer Doleac, Anna Harvey and Jacob Kaplan·May 20, 2020
Texas A&M University, New York University and University of Pennsylvania

The Issue:

The novel coronavirus outbreak has focused attention on the potential for disease transmission in prisons and jails. Prisons and jails present significant challenges to containing disease outbreak. Many called for immediate reductions in prison and jail populations in order to protect the health of inmates,

COVID-19 Impact on Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.

By Randall Akee·May 12, 2020
University of California, Los Angeles

The Navajo Nation estimates that up to 30% of the population must haul water because they are not served by piped water systems.

The Issue:

There is emerging evidence that many disadvantaged communities in the United States are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Native American communities share some

Risks of Growing Debt vs. Fiscal Stringency in the COVID-19 Crisis

By William G. Gale and Zachary Obstfeld·May 11, 2020
The Brookings Institution and EconoFact

The Issue:

The U.S. government has responded to the severe economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus crisis with several major relief packages at an estimated cost over $2.9 trillion so far. Some political leaders are now questioning further government spending, pointing to sizable long-term fiscal shortfalls.

Income Assistance for Low-Income Workers During the COVID-19 Crisis

By Phillip Levine and Diane Schanzenbach·May 7, 2020
Wellesley College and Northwestern University

The Issue:

Economic distress is mounting as a result of the coronavirus crisis and it is critical to find ways to provide support for those most in need. For the past several decades, our safety net has primarily been aimed at promoting and rewarding work and has provided relatively little assistance for low-income

Are Rich People Really Less Generous?

By Benjamin Priday·May 5, 2020
Texas A&M University

The Issue:

Charitable giving is an important part of our economy and a significant household decision. In 2018, individuals in the United States gave $292 billion to charities – approximately 1.4% of GDP. Households earning over $2 million (0.1% of the population) gave about 30% of the total household contributions

Essential and Frontline Workers in the COVID-19 Crisis

By Francine D. Blau, Josefine Koebe and Pamela A. Meyerhofer·April 30, 2020
Cornell University and DIW Berlin / Universität Hamburg

The Issue:

The “Great Lockdown” arising from the COVID-19 pandemic has not been universal – essential workers, who are vital for the core functions of the economy and the society, are still on the job. But not all essential workers face the same level of risk of infection. Some of these workers are “frontline”

Prioritizing Testing and Workplace Re-opening Under COVID-19

By Shooshan Danagoulian, Zhe Zhu and Phillip D. Levy·April 29, 2020
Wayne State University and Wayne State School of Medicine

Click here for a table of Michigan industries detailing proximity, ability to work from home, layoff risk and employment.

The Issue:

States are contemplating and initiating the reopening of their economies at a time when the virus has not completely disappeared and months before the earliest vaccine is even possible.

Labor Demand in the Time of COVID-19

By Lisa B. Kahn, Fabian Lange and David Wiczer·April 24, 2020
University of Rochester, McGill University and Stony Brook University

The Issue:

More than 26 million workers have filed for unemployment in a span of five weeks in the United States. The historic and sudden rise in unemployment across the country is without precedent. Looking beneath the headline numbers can provide a clearer view of the fast evolving situation. Initial Unemployment