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On Reopening the Economy
Jul. 10th, 2020 09:52 amI've been watching the debate over reopening the economy during COVID-19. For the most part, the debate seems to consider the issue as if it were a light switch - on or off. It's not.
It's not even a dial. It's a combination of dials, levers and even an occasional switch. (Masks seem to be the switch - on please as much as possible.) What we, from government to businesses to individuals, do, will have to vary greatly depending on circumstances.
The local auto repair shop will have a different response to COVID than will an office-based firm. Some educational programs, from auto mechanics to brain surgery, really do require a level of in-person training. What works for a high school in an upper-middle income suburb may not work in a rural low-income grade school.
Not only that, but individuals will differ. That healthy non-smoking auto mechanic may live with an elderly parent or a spouse undergoing chemotherapy. Everybody is going to have to adapt.
For example, that auto repair shop may open, but because one of their mechanics has an immune-compromised spouse, they may have that mechanic come in and work alone after hours. Yes, making that work will be difficult. But we don't have a choice. Finally, the sooner we get unstuck from the on / off mentality, the better.
It's not even a dial. It's a combination of dials, levers and even an occasional switch. (Masks seem to be the switch - on please as much as possible.) What we, from government to businesses to individuals, do, will have to vary greatly depending on circumstances.
The local auto repair shop will have a different response to COVID than will an office-based firm. Some educational programs, from auto mechanics to brain surgery, really do require a level of in-person training. What works for a high school in an upper-middle income suburb may not work in a rural low-income grade school.
Not only that, but individuals will differ. That healthy non-smoking auto mechanic may live with an elderly parent or a spouse undergoing chemotherapy. Everybody is going to have to adapt.
For example, that auto repair shop may open, but because one of their mechanics has an immune-compromised spouse, they may have that mechanic come in and work alone after hours. Yes, making that work will be difficult. But we don't have a choice. Finally, the sooner we get unstuck from the on / off mentality, the better.
