Post-pandemic changes

[IglooDame]

It is March 2021 (in other words, a year from now). Covid-19 has had its way with the planet, few countries hit as hard as Italy but few avoided broad "spike" outbreaks as well as Taiwan did. In most countries, almost everyone knows someone who lost a friend or (typically) an older relative. A vaccine is now effective enough and well-distributed enough to prevent further serious outbreaks.

What changes, permanent or temporary, do you foresee as having happened due to the global pandemic? Economically, socially, commercially, culturally, or personally?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Trump is out and we have paid sick leave mandated for the first time in American history.

 

[Hygro]

People spend more of their money on things instead of experiences again, knowing that when the next one comes they want a nicer couch, tv, computer, camera, mic, green screen, blender, whatever.

 

[Hrothbern]

It is March 2021 (in other words, a year from now). Covid-19 has had its way with the planet, few countries hit as hard as Italy but few avoided broad "spike" outbreaks as well as Taiwan did. In most countries, almost everyone knows someone who lost a friend or (typically) an older relative. A vaccine is now effective enough and well-distributed enough to prevent further serious outbreaks.

What changes, permanent or temporary, do you foresee as having happened due to the global pandemic? Economically, socially, commercially, culturally, or personally?

These kinds of big crisises are typical catalysing due landscape changes in a big move, just like with earthsquakes.

I have not yet a clear picture. Too complicated.
My first guess however:
Geopolitical it will put China much more strongly on the map when it leverages its soft power with helping out countries all over the world bathing itself as a proven winner in this disease, A bit like the Marshall plan post WW2, a bit like the Apollo project,

 

[amadeus]

Hopefully much more suspicion of having vital industries outsourced to China after the CCP’s mouthpiece issued a thinly-veiled threat stating that they could destroy the U.S. by withholding sales of vital medical supplies.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Hopefully much more suspicion of having vital industries outsourced to China after the CCP’s mouthpiece issued a thinly-veiled threat stating that they could destroy the U.S. by withholding sales of vital medical supplies.

This came up during an interview with the Lt Gov of Ohio on NPR yesterday. He mentioned that a lot of the things they need to respond to the crisis come from China and that we're going to have to reform our medical supply chains. Turns out capitalism has natural limits, though as a Republican, the Lt Gov would never admit to that.

 

[Hrothbern]

Hopefully much more suspicion of having vital industries outsourced to China after the CCP’s mouthpiece issued a thinly-veiled threat stating that they could destroy the U.S. by withholding sales of vital medical supplies.

Yes
the complicated global supply chains are bound to get a strategic update by some developed countries

 

[amadeus]

This came up during an interview with the Lt Gov of Ohio on NPR yesterday. He mentioned that a lot of the things they need to respond to the crisis come from China and that we're going to have to reform our medical supply chains. Turns out capitalism has natural limits, though as a Republican, the Lt Gov would never admit to that.

Without getting too much into debating the domestic politics of it, I don’t think either party is so ideologically inflexible; Nixon with price controls, Carter deregulating trucking and airlines, Reagan slapping tariffs on Japanese motorcycles, Bush with the bailouts... none of which threatened American livelihoods as much as this could if China controls vital strategic industries.

I hope American capital and ingenuity produce for us a much improved medical supply system that can’t be interrupted by the CCP and doesn’t price Americans out of the market.

 

[AdamCrock]

I predict more self-conscience developing among people. I also predict economic depression - hopefully not that bad as it was in 1920's cause it would bring out right-wing nationals in power. Thing is we don't want to go that way do we ?

 

[Morty]

Geopolitical it will put China much more strongly on the map when it leverages its soft power with helping out countries

Hasn't this already started to happen?? Feel as though I read something just the other day about the extra support they're suddenly offering African countries to combat Covid (to further increase their foothold in the continent)

Otherwise, it'll be interesting to see how things happen environmentally. Do we take the pause and start rebuilding economies in a much greener way? Or do we re-open the coal powered stations and belch out emissions at an even greater rate than we're doing now?

 

[Zardnaar]

Depends who it goes. You're assuming they get a vaccine. Without it society will have to regress.

But yeah the move away from China will accelerate. Certain strategic manufacturing will be shifted.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Hopefully much more suspicion of having vital industries outsourced to China after the CCP’s mouthpiece issued a thinly-veiled threat stating that they could destroy the U.S. by withholding sales of vital medical supplies.

Not just China.
The disruption of supply chains will make outsourcing less attractive and shift national economic policy towards autarky and corporate policy towards vertical integration.
Companies that mostly assemble parts produced by small suppliers (like German car manufacturers) will have to reevaluate the risks of relying on small businesses that don't have the cash reserves to avoid bankruptcy if they temporarily lose a client or a large part of their workforce.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Hopefully much more suspicion of having vital industries outsourced to China after the CCP’s mouthpiece issued a thinly-veiled threat stating that they could destroy the U.S. by withholding sales of vital medical supplies.

On the flip side, all the countries that received those supplies due to having ordered them before the US did are going to appreciate China not bowing to the usual pressures of "well, no, we didn't plan ahead at all and only tried to order when the thing was running rampant, but we are the USA#1 so screw all those other countries and make them wait." Widespread recognition of "hey, we really don't have to bow to US pressure every single time" is going to make the world an entirely different place. Especially for USA#? and its citizens.

 

[Hrothbern]

Hasn't this already started to happen?? Feel as though I read something just the other day about the extra support they're suddenly offering African countries to combat Covid (to further increase their foothold in the continent)

Otherwise, it'll be interesting to see how things happen environmentally. Do we take the pause and start rebuilding economies in a much greener way? Or do we re-open the coal powered stations and belch out emissions at an even greater rate than we're doing now?

That Climate is a good point !
Would we have been further with Climate techs, like the big offshore windmills, solar, etc when the GFC would not have come in between in 2008 ?
I think that the GFC did cost us several years progress on climate for several reasons from resource allocation freedom up to some unwise costcutting actions.

This crisis is I think both an opportunity as a risk for Green, sustainable, etc.
IDK what happens.

 

[Kaitzilla]

It is March 2021 (in other words, a year from now). Covid-19 has had its way with the planet, few countries hit as hard as Italy but few avoided broad "spike" outbreaks as well as Taiwan did. In most countries, almost everyone knows someone who lost a friend or (typically) an older relative. A vaccine is now effective enough and well-distributed enough to prevent further serious outbreaks.

What changes, permanent or temporary, do you foresee as having happened due to the global pandemic? Economically, socially, commercially, culturally, or personally?

We learn all schools and colleges can be done remotely, so we do away with them!

 

[The_J]

People will know how to wash their hands.
They'll again not do it though.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

We learn all schools and colleges can be done remotely, so we do away with them!

And most office jobs.
Anyone who doesn't work in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, education, healthcare, childcare, research, transportation and distribution is just wasting their and everyone else's time and resources.

Bit facetious, but I really hope this crisis will heighten the contrast between work that is necessary, convenient, or useless.

 

[EgonSpengler]

People will know how to wash their hands.
They'll again not do it though.

Similarly, they'll appreciate that having some money saved can be crucial and not just a luxury, but either won't or won't be able to.

 

[civvver]

Economic downturn, hospitality industries hit hardest like vacationing in florida, going to events in nyc. Just under double digit unemployment like 8-9%.

Disaster insurance available for anything and everything, want to insure your wedding? Go for it. Insure your vacation? Now you can with no coverage limits. It cover pandemics, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, everything.

 

[AdamCrock]

It is now that I experience something like "random encounter" in Fallout 2 . The whole situation does seems like a random dealt bad poker hand. It is up to now, how and why the political powers will take it up - You see it is modal , unpredictable situation that politicians cannot simply omit or ignore, and are forced to make a stand about. We can (I think expect) two outcomes out of it : solidify or deny, left vs. right, commies against democrats and the like. I wouldn't be surprised if some political power claimed or blamed the other ...