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Some Musings About Our World


COVID-19 and the Socioeconomic Divide

3/27/2020

22 Comments

 

By now, people in the US and around the world have the basics down. We’ve read about flattening the curve, washing your hands to the choruses of several pop songs, social distancing, the list goes on. We’ve also heard about the impact on the economy in both the short and long term. As is usually the case with events of this magnitude, the consequences will be influenced by socioeconomic status, and the COVID-19 crisis will have a disproportionately larger negative effect on our more vulnerable populations.

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Take the group of folks who are simply working from home, getting paid the same salary, dealing with a dog barking on your Teams Meeting, COVID-19 is an inconvenience. Sure, some may get sick themselves and they will absolutely know someone who gets sick, hospitalized, and probably somebody who dies from the Coronavirus. I do not want to minimize the overall impact across the board. This virus does not discriminate; however, humans still do.
 
Now consider an example from another group of people. A couple with 3 kids who rent a house and both parents hold service positions at a restaurant. For this family, the situation is grave. The restaurant and school both closed, which increased their personal costs while eliminating their revenue source. Or consider the single parent who works at the grocery store who is ‘allowed’ to work—and might even see increased hours. Being an essential employee allows her to earn an hourly income, but she is exposed to the Coronavirus. Given financial burdens, she doesn’t have a choice. Sure, her place of employment has been labeled ‘essential’ by the government, and so she can earn money, but she might choose to be nonessential.
 
Both examples are more likely than the first group to live in closer quarters, to rent an apartment, have less access to healthcare, less savings, and fewer safety nets in general. There is, of course, a third tier of increased susceptibility. It is sobering to consider how this virus will spread through the most vulnerable of us, people in prisons, nursing homes, patients in cancer wards and with immune-deficiencies, and our growing homeless population. For these individuals, there is literally be no escape and no option.
 
None of this is new to the dialogue, however, I wonder if the COVID-19 pandemic will expose the inequality that exists in our world. If the misnamed Spanish Flu from 1918-1919 is a benchmark, then it absolutely will. However, given the stresses of World War I, many government officials and public news outlets did not want to present more bad news, and so the inequality was largely forgotten about soon after. In fact, it was the Spanish government who first presented real data on the situation, leading to the perpetually misnomer of the strand of influenza itself. In 2020, we do not have a global war to detract attention from the pandemic or the glaring inequality that it highlights.
 
In my sustainability marketing class, we go over all of the factors that contribute to the current problems we face. Global income inequality is not often on the top of mind, but the class quickly comes to a consensus of its role. The stats are always changing and always staggering. For instance, as of December 2019, the top 26 richest individual people hold as much wealth as the bottom 3.8 billion. [That one deserves a second look, but when you consider that 1+ billion people live on less than $1 per day and Jeff Bezos has 107.3 billion dollars, it adds up].
 
These eye-popping numbers go on and on. In normal times, socioeconomic status is related to outcomes such as quality of life and life expectancy, but we are about to witness just how negatively correlated the variables can be. For those of us who are somewhat insulated, who have the privilege to social distance, is there something we can do?
 
There is a lot of rhetoric about what is going on in relation to COVID-19, and hopefully we begin to ask what are potential ‘silver linings’? We’ve already seen this happening with reduction pollution in China, but what are some other social aspects that we can address in this time of crisis so that when things get ‘back to normal’ we do a better job at protecting those of us who need protection? I don’t suggest that any true good can come from a global pandemic; it is just putting a lot of social institutions under the microscope. Some for better and some for worse. Regardless, we won’t be able to justify our global imbalance when it is so blatantly in our faces via red numbers on a ‘death toll’ screen.
 
In summary, is this just a “Them’s the breaks, kid” situation for certain people beneath an arbitrary socioeconomic divide or do we have a responsibility to shift the paradigm? If the latter, how? John Rawls Theory of Justice is a good starting point.
22 Comments
Josh Fischer
3/27/2020 02:55:22 pm

I think this is something that people are not focusing on right now, the people who are most vulnerable right now are the people on lower socioeconomic status. I can somewhat relate as a college student who mostly lives check to check at school and I recently lost my job at a restaurant. Luckily I had family who can help me financially while I look for other work but I could never imagine what having to support a family and having zero income would be like. This is a horrible situation for everyone but I hope that we can learn from this and what we as a society did right and wrong to hopefully learn from this and fix our social institutions to hopefully for prepare for something like this if it happens again in the future.

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Shannon Fisher
3/28/2020 11:02:02 am

This global crisis has brought to light a lot of issues with governments across the world. So many demographics are being ignored and brushed over when it comes to financial help. The homeless population, as brought up in this post, is left with more struggles than before and little help from the government. I think it could be beneficial for the U.S. government to take a look at what other countries are doing for this because $1,200 is simply not enough for some people. That being said, a lot of demographics aren't even eligible to receive the stimulus package. I am a college student who is unable to work due to the restaurant closing, so not only do I have no income, but I am unable to receive the stimulus package because, like most college students, I am still claimed as a dependent. This is a difficult and high pressure situation for the government, but I think there is a lot to be learned from other countries and how they are handling the situation.

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Marysa Kroh
3/30/2020 11:30:53 am

I think that it is so important to be aware of how individuals with a lower socioeconomic status are being negatively impacted by the effects of COVID-19. I know that the government is doing what they can to help individuals meet ends during this strange time; however, I am so saddened to see that Congress excluded one of the poorest demographics from the stimulus package. I am college student that is still claimed as a dependent of my mother, and because of this, I will receive nothing from the stimulus package. Even though I am technically a "dependent", I still pay for my bills and schooling entirely on my own. I am also left unemployed during this time due to the pandemic. It is absolutely mind-boggling for me to see that dependents 17 and younger will be receiving $500 from the largest economic stimulus package in the history of the entire world, but individuals between the ages of 18 to 24 that are claimed as dependents will receive $0. I do not understand why Congress is excluding one of the most financially vulnerable demographics in the country when they are already spending 2 trillion dollars on the stimulus package. There is honestly nothing that I can currently do about my situation except to be hopeful. This is trying times for everyone right now, and everyone is being affected by this pandemic in one way or another. I will end my comment with a quote I have recently seen: "If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table, not a taller fence"-Pastor Mike Roeder. Help your friends, family, neighbors, and loved ones if you are able, and above all else, try to stay positive. We will come out of this together.

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Lizzie Schoonmaker
4/6/2020 10:16:33 am

Marysa, your stance is very valid and I agree with you heavily. I love that you quoted Pastor Mike Roeder about "not building a taller fence". I believe that this mentality is an excellent one to continue with as we all face our own challenges with COVID-19. As a dependent still myself, I will not personally reap the benefits of the stimulus package either and can completely agree with you how frustrating it is that we have been excluded, when it seems that we need the money just as bad as everyone else. I went to the grocery store this morning and purchased my weekly groceries for my mother and I, and at the end, I donated a few dollars to the food bank that was partnered with my local Giant Eagle because I felt that even though I am not going to thrive from the package, I still have more than some, and it was the right thing to by sharing my "wealth" and "building a longer table". As a person, I wish there is more we can do in terms of this crisis to help those in need, but if we all assume the same mentality that you and I share, I believe we can all prosper beyond this pandemic. Thank you for your insights and creating a great post!

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Sam Romstadt
3/31/2020 07:36:39 am

When talking about those in lower socioeconomic statuses, college students are often an after thought. With Congress passing the largest stimulus package in history, adults making less that $75,000 a year would be given $1,200 from the government to help during this time of change. However, because I am claimed as a dependent, as most college students are, I will not see the $1,200. In need of money, I was excited to see grocery stores were hiring a large number of college students or recently laid off workers. But, I have chosen to forgo this opportunity as my dad is a captain for Toledo Fire Department, meaning he could be exposed to Coronavirus at any given time, and probably will be and I do not want to take the chance of unknowingly infecting another person. It is interesting to see how other countries are responding to Coronavirus, from the timeliness to the aid they are providing for their citizens. As new information surfaces everyday, I am hopeful that people around the world are becoming more and more innovative to solve the problems we are all facing. During the 2008 recession, Uber and Pinterest were founded, arguably two of the biggest innovations of the past decade. With that in mind, I do think that maybe something good can come from this terrible pandemic whether it be new developments in medicine or just a new app, globally people are coming together.

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Megan Thurston
3/31/2020 08:11:47 am

I think that when people are part of a lower socioeconomic status, it is extremely difficult for these people to survive in times like these with the threat of COVID-19. I know so many people who have been laid off but have so many bills to pay and no source of income to help them. With the bill that was just recently passed, giving citizens money in their pockets, it is frustrating that to see that college students have been excluded from this demographic of who receives money from the government. College students are among the poorest demographics and if you are like me are carrying debt. COVID-19 could even bear the threat of taking away my summer internship in which I myself would be unemployed and have no new income to use. This pandemic is hitting our nation hard but I know that there are so many other people in the same exact position as me. I think that knowing that, it gives me hope that we can get through this together and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

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Meg Christenson
4/1/2020 07:00:33 am

Megan - I really appreciated your response to this blog post. I think with everything going on we are putting a large focus on those who have been laid off as a direct result of this horrible virus, but there isn't much talk of those our age in college trying to make ends meet to receive a degree. Personally, living right outside of new york city the current epicenter of this epidemic, there is an immense panic throughout the streets of the stock market, entertainment industry, and our great sports, but I have found a new frustration with all of these things I once cherished. Yes it is saddening that Broadway is shutdown, the stocks are uncertain and MSG has closed its doors, but lets' pull back and take time to realize the damage on individuals. The scale of this is currently too large and it is hard to hear every person's situation and circumstances, but I think as a nation if we make an effort to learn about different individuals, personal struggle with this disaster we might find a little more humanity.

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Megan Veneman
3/31/2020 08:38:36 am

The socioeconomic divide has become clearer to me throughout my time in the sustainability marketing course. As far as its relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic, I can see how this would be a significant issue. I have seen news about how the United States has more cases of COVID-19 than any other country. While that may be true, it is important to consider that other countries may have less access to test kits which would significantly alter the data of how many people have actually contracted the virus.

As I have had the luxury of spending my time safely in my home, I have had more time to scroll through social media. I quickly noticed that there are a handful of those with higher socioeconomic status (celebrities) who have been posting content insinuating that they are bored/unsatisfied with their life while in quarantine. It is interesting to see the replies from people of lower socioeconomic status who get upset about this because it is frustrating how someone could live in a multi-million dollar home with a pool and people to service their every need and they could still find a way to be ungrateful in a way.

This idea alongside your blog post really made me think about the even lower classes who do not have access to social media, electronic devices and wifi to distract them. Those who are struggling to find their next meal, the ones who are living off of less than $1 per day. How hard it must be to even practice social distancing because where they reside is in close quarters with so many others who are in their same position. I do not know how in the present form of our society we can begin to resolve this socioeconomic divide, but I hope that the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to open the eyes of many people around the world.

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Amelia Heslep
3/31/2020 10:56:35 am

Like a few others in the comments, I am privileged to have a family that is able to support me during this time despite having lost my part time job. I have also been rejected or ghosted from just about every summer internship program I've applied to, which makes me a little nervous as to what I'm going to do during this time. The thing that worries me the most is the fact that an economic recession could be just as detrimental to society as the virus itself. People will struggle to find meals, keep their water/ lights on, and pay for their homes. I keep seeing social media posts that say "when this is over..." followed by something about going out with friends and families. While I completely agree that once this is done I will 100% be socializing again and not taking my loved ones for granted, I think that this stance comes from a place of privilege. For many, the effects of this pandemic will last long after the virus has died down. The economy won't bounce back right away, and people who live in impoverished cities will be hit the hardest and continue to struggle when things "go back to normal". I think the government is taking a step in the right direction with the stimulus package although I do not think it's a one size fits all solution (it also leaves several people out when you look at the specifics). Since the virus is hitting different countries at different times, accelerating at different rates, we can learn and prepare accordingly in our own nation. Hopefully our leaders will do this and also refer to the economic recession of 2009 and see what could have been done differently in order to help those in need.

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Madison Linville
3/31/2020 11:00:54 am

It is interesting to be able to apply some of the content we have learned in our sustainability marketing class and apply it to what is going on, around our world, with the Coronavirus. This global pandemic has challenged our economic and social systems, globally.

There is so much stress and confusion going on. People are out of jobs, out of work, taking care of kids who are out of school, etc. For me, personally, at home, I have a serving job, and am out of that currently. It's hard, for college students like me, who are claimed as a dependent because we don't qualify for the reimbursement from the government.

I am very blessed to be home with my family, who supports me financially. It's hard to see people around the world, even some of my co-workers, struggling as they are out of a job and are taking care of 3-4 kids who are out of school.

There is so much to be learned still, and I know we are all working through our own struggles. It's important that we keep the more susceptible groups safe and healthy during this time, and do everything we can to beat the Coronavirus sooner rather than later.

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Scott Harper
3/31/2020 11:38:03 am

I think this is one of the many things that through this pandemic that often tend to get over looked rather than showcased in the nightly news or in ways that communities should help. In fact this reminds me of my Uncles line of work running the local Clintonville food pantry in Columbus. Since the spread of the virus a lot of the after school programs and services he runs now have to be ran through door to door services. He has said that there has been a lot of stress that has been put on these families and providers to get the resources that they need.

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Madison Linville
4/14/2020 10:17:53 am

Scott, that's a very great point. I have a lot of friends who work as student teachers in Athens, and are still in touch with the teachers they're paired with. Usually, the schools give out free breakfasts and lunches to the students, and now, obviously with the schools being closed they didn't want to put that extra stress on the parents of students, who are now spending the full day home, having to provide meals for their kids. They teamed up with different restaurants in Athens to provide free lunches to these students.
I know you said it's causing stress for your Uncle and his work, and they're work of providing for these people does not go unnoticed. It is showcasing communities coming together to help provide for eachother.

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Vicky Swift
3/31/2020 12:40:22 pm

Working remotely just isn’t an option for a lot of people. Many can’t afford internet or live in a rural area where it’s not available. Libraries and other places that normally have WiFi available to the public are also now closed.

I’m glad the US government is taking steps to minimize the economic blow from COVID-19, however, it’s been more like putting a band-aid on a stab wound. $1,200 doesn’t even cover a month’s worth of bills for most people, and it’s starting to seem like many of us will be out of work for longer than that. Prohibiting evictions and utility shut offs are also great, but not when people still have to pay back their owed money when all this is over. This crisis continues to put people in debt.

I believe the problem of income inequality is already widely known about in the US, but people don’t think about it on a global scale. To most Americans, being ‘poor’ means renting an apartment in the ghetto, but globally being ‘poor’ can mean barely surviving and not having your basic needs met. Many upper-middle-class and upper-class people in the US don’t care about income inequality, because they don’t see it directly affecting them. There’s also the stereotype that poor people are lazy and would rather take money from the government than work for it themselves.

Now that so many people must file for unemployment, I hope they realize that financial struggle isn’t a choice, and I never want to see them judging someone that uses federal assistance ever again. I know I shouldn’t be complaining about this situation without having a solution for it, but I don’t have a ‘catch-all’ realistic suggestion. One thing people who have the privilege to work from home can do is donate goods to their local food bank to help those most affected by job loss.

Something I think will break down after this is all over is the illusion that the government can’t fund relief programs for the poor. They just pulled $2 trillion out of nowhere for the COVID-19 relief bill, so why can’t America have better healthcare and relief programs on a regular basis? Many organizations won’t forget this the next time the government cuts their funding.

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Logan Schmit
3/31/2020 01:38:44 pm

I have not personally been affected too much by all that's going on, thankfully. However I know a lot of my extended family and friends who have lost jobs/internships because of COVID-19 and I feel so bad for them. I wish there was a way to highlight people who have experienced this so we can find a way to help them out, especially those who are living paycheck to paycheck. The long-term effects of this won't come to fruition until months after all the lockdowns and social distancing is done with and we as a country will take it like a punch in the face. Hopefully the government will continue to pass acts like the recent distribution of money in an attempt to stabilize the economy when people start returning to their every day lives.

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Cameron King
3/31/2020 02:41:55 pm

This article opens up some great points for discussion and thinking about the future after this pandemic ends. Major differences in socioeconomic have been present in society but little has been done to make light of those differences. The staggering number of how many people survive on such little while only a small group of individuals hold such a wide wealth. The distribution comes into light in this pandemic, while the wealthy stay in their multi-million dollar mansions, while the working class suffers from an inability to gather an income. The government offers a COVID-19 stimulus check to try and help struggling families. But overall this stimulus check offers little to the majority, with people not being able to collect the stimulus as well it not being sufficient enough. But examining the overall lower/struggling class there is a large misrepresentation, something I believed should be acknowledged by the government. Creating social institutions to try and help the struggling rather than have a system that keeps them down and helps the wealthy only benefit more. Overall as a community COVID-19 has changed a lot in society. Individuals losing jobs, seniors at Universities or High School losing moments that they have been building up to, as well as individuals losing their lives, hopefully, this can be a look toward the future. In a closing remark, the term social distancing has been thrown around over and over in this pandemic, but rather than been distancing socially we physically distance so we as humans do not socially distance ourselves from friends, families, and connections. Physically distance yourself but do not socially distance yourself.

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Nathaniel Stansbery
4/2/2020 09:40:11 am

It's always interesting to read about COVID-19 to me. Everyone has something a little bit different to say than everyone else. I thought the points about the differences in socioeconomic status and how that would affect those with different status.
I have been personally affected by lay offs due to this. Both my mom and I work in the restaurant industry, so both of us are struggling right now. We are a part of the socioeconomic status that would be affected by this due to our jobs. My brother also has a lot of medical problems, so this is also taking a toll on our family because all of them living with my brother are weary to go outside the house at all, even for groceries or other essential things.
While it is nice that the government is offering a stimulus check to everyone if they are an independent for tax purposes, it's just a one and done deal. Only $1,200 that is supposed to last each person until this pandemic is over, and who's to say when that will even be. Being a dependent can really screw students over who support themselves through college, but their parents make too much according to taxes.
It is my belief that things will be changed after this. I think changes will continue to be made as we travel through this pandemic. Things should have been handled more seriously and earlier, but better late than never. I do believe we will be able to shorten the curve with everyone following the mandates of the government. I also believe that in this virus exposing just how big the socioeconomic inequalities can be, that things will change as a result of this as well. People will realize that they can get the help they need, and things they were told wouldn't work are now happening or will be happening as well. I can even hope that it will bring those rich, rich people to help out with this, be it through donations of supplies, money, or anything else.

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Gram Doherty
4/2/2020 01:58:34 pm

This part of the COVID-19 pandemic does not get the media attention that I think it deserves. News media either pats politicians on the back for being ahead of the curve or would rather point blame at someone that we all know was never capable of handling something serious in the first place. Wealth inequality is a serious issue on its own and this pandemic is making it worse. Rich people are telling working class Americans to stay home and not work when that is not an option for these people. The government needs to do something to make the working class of this country feel secure even though they could never do that even in a good economy.

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Lynn Bradford
4/15/2020 09:55:17 am

I've found the current health crisis to be rather illuminating in terms of the lengths to which companies are willing to go to protect their employees, and rather disheartening. I'm worried for my friends who are still required to leave their homes as essential employees. The low income, minimum wage jobs which have been deemed essential in this time of crisis employ a large quantity of 18-24 year olds. As many other people on this comment thread have mentioned, most of us will not receive a stimulus check despite the "essential" roles we play in the economy. I'm worried for my relatives who cannot continue working offsite. I'm worried about the sudden loss of employment my own parents are facing. I would like to think that if this pandemic achieves anything, it would be the increase of value we societally deem these service jobs.

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James Sylvester
4/15/2020 11:09:04 am

As stated in the post the socioeconomic divide is being highlighted due to the virus much more than it ever has before. Depending on how you personally view your ideal economic strategy you could be outraged or comforted. People who are not too worried of the health impacts of the virus could be worried about the financial impact, but this is not the first halt in the economy. The problem with spreading the wealth is the initiative must be taken at the top. The 1% will never relinquish their money no matter what is going on in the world. The power the people have that are not in the 1% comes from our ability to communicate wide spread with social networking and other technology. When we continue to talk amongst each other about the inequalities we face then more power is handed to us, we need to continue to shine light towards these problems and then maybe one day the sun appears as well.

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Danielle Morris
4/18/2020 12:42:28 pm

In a time like now our world needs to come together as one. The best line in this blog is, “The virus does not discriminate; however, humans still do.” In my opinion, it does not matter what political party you claim to be a part of, your race, or economic standing; as a world we need to stick together. Unfortunately, one person cannot make this global pandemic end; it is going to take everyone. Whether you are an essential worker or a non-essential worker, we all need to play our parts in society today so we can get back to a new normal later. Now when I say new normal, I think of the world going back to be the same, but hopefully people will change their ways. No matter what happens to the world we will always have to have blue collar workers to help keep the world's economy stable. The economy will take a while to get out of this hole, but I have faith in it being restored. I think it will start being more common for us to see individuals wearing rubber gloves and masks. When the social distancing is lifted, I think we will still see more people social distancing from individuals they do not know rather than accidently bumping into them. As for people getting to reunite with their friends and family, I think they will start appreciating each other's company more.

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Yiran Wang
4/19/2020 06:12:45 pm

What we need to do now is to reduce travel and maintain hygiene.The epidemic has affected everyone, but I think health care prices have played a crucial role.As far as I know, during the outbreak in China, the government covered most of the costs, including testing and hospitalization, which greatly reduced the burden on some families in need.I'm sure there are plenty of people who support it, even though it will cause the economy to go down.

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Evan OConnor
4/28/2020 12:19:54 pm

The best and worst thing to happen in the world in a long time. I think the virus has affected us in a terrible way bay taking the lives of loved ones. On the other side of the coin it has brought families and loved ones closer during this tough time. Being home with family and spending quality time together is priceless. Its a blessing in disguise with the ability to strengthen bonds with our loved ones.

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