The public health emergency that was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic ended on Thursday. This has resulted in some policies that had helped the United States recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic also being lifted. Although COVID-19 still remains a public health threat, the U.S. economy has returned to its pre-pandemic growth rate, indicating that the federal response to the crisis, which included policies such as the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the American Relief Plan Act, was successful in managing the economic impact of the pandemic.
Economists have acknowledged that the policies that were implemented by policy makers have accelerated the economic recovery. However, they are uncertain about the lasting impact that the pandemic may have on the workforce, and how prepared policy makers are to deal with potential recessions and new pandemics.
Lessons learned from the federal response to the pandemic could help vulnerable populations, particularly sectors like healthcare that are still struggling. There are also potential long-term implications that economists do not yet understand, such as how COVID-19 impacts the workforce, whether remote work will continue, and how it will affect the economy.
The federal response to the pandemic, which included policies like the child tax credit, helped strengthen the unemployment insurance system. However, some economists have criticized the stimulus for not being targeted enough. Some businesses that received aid were fraudulent or did not need it.
Moving forward, policy makers should take a similar approach, with a focus on providing direct assistance to workers by strengthening the safety net. Lauren Bauer, an economic research fellow at the Brookings Institution, suggests better management of social insurance programs, which could prepare for future economic challenges.
Economists are still studying the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce, particularly on specific sectors and industries. They assert that low wages for essential workers must be addressed before the next pandemic. The pandemic has raised important questions about how to sustain consumption without preventing it from deteriorating.
Looking ahead to the future, policy makers should ensure that unemployment insurance, SNAP, and Medicaid work quickly to cover as many people as possible. Supply chain issues also need to be addressed before the next major economic vulnerability occurs.