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COVID-19 and Direct Payments to Individuals: Historical Precedents [March 19, 2020]
From the Document: "Members of Congress and the Trump Administration have signaled their support for making direct payments to individuals to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. In current discussions, these payments are sometimes framed in terms of 'universal basic income' or UBI proposals. In the past when these proposals were made--and sometimes enacted--they were framed in terms of providing economic stimulus."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Falk, Gene
2020-03-19
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Disrupted Federal Elections: Policy Issues for Congress [March 12, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Super Typhoon Yutu struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) approximately 10 days before Election Day 2018. That election included one federal contest, for U.S. House Delegate. Governor Ralph DLG. Torres issued an executive order postponing the general election from November 6 to November 13. The order also postponed early voting. This episode appears to be the only case of a postponed federal general election in modern history. As discussed below, other election disruptions are more common. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] In Focus briefly introduces historical and policy issues that could be relevant for congressional oversight, legislation, or appropriations related to what this product calls 'disrupted elections'. This term means events such as natural disasters, other emergencies, or cyber attacks that could substantially delay or prevent normal voting, election administration, or campaigning."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garrett, R. Sam, 1977-
2020-03-12
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COVID-19: Potential Role of Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carrybacks in Addressing the Economic Effects [March 16, 2020]
From the Document: "A number of industries may suffer losses in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The travel and tourism industry, and restaurant industry, appear particularly susceptible at the moment due to an uptick in canceled reservations and a reduction in bookings. Other industries are likely to be impacted as well by a drop-off in consumer spending and a resulting reduction in profits, with the impacts likely increasing if COVID-19 continues to spread. Before 2018, businesses with losses could 'carry back' net operating losses (NOL) and use them to receive a refund for past taxes paid. On several occasions, Congress temporarily extended or enhanced the carryback rules to assist businesses in times of general economic weakness, or in response to natural disasters. Recent changes enacted in the 2017 tax revision (P.L. 115-97), commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), however, eliminated the ability to carry back losses. This Insight discusses how allowing NOL carrybacks could potentially assist businesses impacted by economic weakness associated with COVID-19."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keightley, Mark P.
2020-03-16
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Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act--Tax Relief for Individuals and Businesses [Updated March 24, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress is considering a number of proposals that seek to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One such proposal, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (S. 3548), was introduced in the Senate on March 19, 2020. On March 22, 2020, the Senate released an updated version of the CARES Act. A cloture vote on the motion to proceed on the amended version was rejected on March 22. Tax relief for individuals and businesses in the CARES Act includes [1] a one-time rebate to taxpayers; [2] modification of the tax treatment of certain retirement fund withdrawals and charitable contributions; [3] a delay of employer payroll taxes and taxes paid by certain corporations; and [4] a variety of changes to the tax treatment of business income and net operating losses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sherlock, Molly F.; Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.; Driessen, Grant A. . . .
2020-03-24
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Iraq and U.S. Policy [Updated March 20, 2020]
From the Document: "Iraqi authorities have instituted curfews and travel restrictions in response to the COVID [coronavirus disease]-19 pandemic, which poses serious public health, economic, and fiscal risks for the country. Public health measures to slow the spread of the disease have diminished participation in the protest movement that has swept central and southern Iraq since October 2019. Security forces and militia members killed hundreds of protestors and wounded thousands in Baghdad and several southern Iraqi cities, fueling calls for the ouster of the ruling elite. While crowds have dispersed, protestors' demands for systemic change and an end to corruption and foreign interference remain unmet. Meanwhile, intense U.S.-Iranian confrontation has reinvigorated some Iraqis' efforts to drive U.S. and other foreign forces out of Iraq."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2020-03-20
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COVID-19 and Stimulus Payments to Individuals: Considerations on Using Advanced Refundable Credits as Economic Stimulus [March 17, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to concerns about an economic slowdown stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers have been considering a broad array of policy options. Some are targeted directly toward the individuals and industries that may be most affected. Others would more broadly seek to stimulate the economy. Among this latter category of policies, some have suggested a payroll tax cut, while others have proposed direct cash payments--'recovery rebates'--to virtually all households. One mechanism to provide cash payments relatively quickly is to create a new refundable tax credit and then advance it to households before they would otherwise claim it on their income tax returns. A similar policy was enacted most recently in 2008. This Insight addresses some common questions about advanced refundable tax credits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
2020-03-17
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Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Developments in China and International Response [January 31, 2020]
From the Overview: "On December 31, 2019, China's government notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a previously unknown coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the patients. On January 12, China's government shared the genetic sequence of the virus with WHO and international partners. By January 30, the virus had spread across China and to four continents (see Figure 1). As required by the International Health Regulations (IHR), a legally binding instrument of international law under which countries work together for global health security, the global health community is closely monitoring 2019-nCoV and seeking to limit its spread. WHO is coordinating the global response; the United States is aiding as a member of WHO and through its own agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawrence, Susan V.; Tharakan, Sara M.
2020-01-31
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Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Developments in China and International Response [Updated February 6, 2020]
From the Document: "On December 31, 2019, China's government notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, China. On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a previously unknown coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the patients, and on January 12 the scientists made its genetic sequence available to WHO and international partners. By February 5, the virus had spread to every province in China and to 24 other countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Lawrence, Susan V.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2020-02-06
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 21, 2021: COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a SARS-CoV-2 R.1 Lineage Variant in a Skilled Nursing Facility After Vaccination Program -- Kentucky, March 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreak Associated with a SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] R.1 Lineage Variant in a Skilled Nursing Facility After Vaccination Program -- Kentucky, March 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-04-21
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Due Process in the Time of COVID: Defenders as First Responders in a Juvenile Court System Struggling with the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Introduction: "In February and March 2020, as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] spread throughout the United States, NJDC [National Juvenile Defender Center] recognized a crisis facing youth involved in the juvenile courts and the attorneys tasked with defending them. The contagious nature of COVID-19 and the public health protocols meant to mitigate transmission heightened risks to the health and wellbeing of youth entering the juvenile delinquency system, where placement in secure and non-secure residential institutions is an ever-present threat. [...] Recognizing the challenges attorneys have faced representing youth in the delinquency system during a pandemic, NJDC set out to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on juvenile defense attorneys and their clients. Drawing from our network of defenders across the country, we interviewed 51 juvenile defenders from 38 states during June, July, and August 2020, inquiring about the health and safety risks defenders and their clients faced, and about how the pandemic was impacting their ability to provide effective legal representation for their clients."
National Juvenile Defender Center (U.S.)
2021-03
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Individual Hurricane Preparedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights for Risk Communication and Emergency Management Policies
From the Abstract: "Climate change adaptation strategies should anticipate that the 2020 situation which resembles an above average hurricane season coinciding with a pandemic may occur more frequently in the future. This study draws lessons on how individual hurricane preparedness is influenced by a pandemic, which turns out to be a combination of perceptions of flood and pandemic risks that have opposite effects on preparedness behavior. We conducted three waves of surveys during 2019-2020 to monitor hurricane preparedness activities in flood-prone coastal areas in Florida, including a survey of 600 respondents in early June 2020 to obtain insights into households' risk perceptions and preparedness for this hurricane season under COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The results show that this hurricane season is dominated by concerns over COVID-19 which influences people's evacuation intentions. Whereas hotel costs were the main obstacle to evacuating during Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the main evacuation obstacle identified in the 2020 hurricane season is COVID-19. Our statistical analyses that investigates the factors influencing evacuation intentions consistently show that older individuals are less likely to evacuate voluntarily, because they are concerned about becoming infected by COVID-19. We discuss the implications of our findings for adaptation policies that aim to improve hurricane preparedness in situations of a pandemic, such as risk communication and emergency management policies."
Social Science Research Network
Botzen, W. J. Wouter; Mol, Jantsje M.; Robinson, Peter . . .
2020-09-26
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Criminal Court Reopening and Public Health in the COVID-19 Era
From the Introduction: "NACDL [National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers] recognizes that the unprecedented public health risks caused by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic present enormous challenges for court operations especially in criminal matters where liberty, and in some venues, life are at stake. There is an inherent conflict between core constitutional rights and public safety. A highly infectious and potentially deadly disease, which experts in the medical profession have concluded spreads most virulently when people are in close proximity in enclosed spaces for extended periods, makes business as usual in the nation's courthouses impossible. From a legal perspective, there can be no justice when fundamental constitutional rights are suspended or curtailed. NACDL members have reacted with care and courage by seeking release for incarcerated individuals who face increased risk of COVID-19 infection by virtue of age, race, pre-existing medical conditions, conditions of confinement, or other factors. Despite personal risk of exposure and adverse economic circumstances, NACDL members have remained steadfastly committed to their clients and to the Constitution to ensure that the fear and panic caused by this pandemic does not undermine our shared values of liberty and fairness. While the medical profession is reporting evidence of a resurgence of the virus and warning that a second wave of deadly infection is expected for autumn 2020, the nation's courts press forward with tentative reopening. It is imperative that leadership of the judiciary and other stakeholders understand the implications for the criminal legal system and adhere to core principles going forward."
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (U.S.)
2020-06
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Expiring State COVID-19 Emergency Declarations: Effects on Federal Aid [Updated April 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Some states, tribes, and territories (hereinafter 'states') may consider rescinding or sun-setting their state-level emergency and disaster declarations, as states make progress in containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Regardless of state decisions, the federal declarations of a public health emergency (under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §247d)), two national emergencies (under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §5121 et seq., hereinafter 'Stafford Act')) and major disasters for each state (also under the Stafford Act) remain in place. This Insight examines the potential impact of lapsing state emergency declarations on the availability of federal aid, either generally or with respect to certain expenses, provided through the Stafford Act as well as six COVID-19 related supplements[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stienstra, Lauren; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Lee, Erica A. . . .
2021-04-07
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COVID-19: Financial Relief and Assistance Resources for Renters [Updated April 12, 2021]
From the Document: "This Insight highlights resources from selected federal agencies and other organizations that may aid renters at risk of eviction due to circumstances related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Minter, Alyse N.
2021-04-12
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Youth Provisions in the Supporting Foster Youth and Families Through the Pandemic Act (Division X of P.L. 116-260) [April 21, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report focuses on the youth provisions in the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act, enacted as Division X of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2021 (P.L. 116-260). The act includes provisions that make temporary changes to child welfare and home visiting policies in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The youth policies are intended to assist foster youth during the pandemic, including those who are no longer in care. Compared to their peers generally, current and former foster experience poor outcomes in education, employment, housing stability, and other markers of adulthood. Such challenges appear to be heightened because of the pandemic, as reported in news publications and surveys of youth."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.
2021-04-21
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19 [Updated April 15, 2021]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean. As of April 14, 2021, the region had almost 26.7million confirmed cases(19.3% of cases worldwide) and over 846,000 deaths(28.4% of deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru had the highest numbers of deaths in the region, and Brazil and Mexico had highest death tolls worldwide after the United States. The regional rankings change when examining deaths per 100,000 population--using this measurement, Peru had the highest rate in the region, followed by Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and Colombia. A University of Washington COVID-19 projection model (updated April 8, 2021) forecast deaths in the region could reach 1.2 million by August 1, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.; Meyer, Peter J. . . .
2021-04-15
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Need for Financial Aid to America's States and Territories During the Pandemic: Supporting First Responders, Assisting Schools in Their Efforts to Safely Educate, and Preventing Mass Layoffs, Virtual Hearing Before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 10, 2020
This is the September 10, 2020 virtual hearing on "Need for Financial Aid to America's States and Territories During the Pandemic: Supporting First Responders, Assisting Schools in Their Efforts to Safely Educate, and Preventing Mass Layoffs," held before the House Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Maxine Waters: "The coronavirus pandemic crisis continues to cause terrible harm across the nation. Over 189,000 people have lost their lives to the virus in the United States, and there have been over 6.3 million cases nationwide. Last week's jobs numbers showed an unemployment rate still over 10 percent for Black, Hispanic, and Asian workers, and millions of families are in danger of being evicted from their homes as they struggle just to make ends meet. Today, we will be discussing the urgent need for Congress to provide financial relief to the nation's States and Territories during this crisis." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lourdes Leon Guerrero, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Laura Kelly, and Timothy J. Walz.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 28, 2021: Effectiveness of Pfizer-Biontech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years -- United States, January-March 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Effectiveness of Pfizer-Biontech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years -- United States, January-March 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-04-28
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 27, 2021: Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine After Reports of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Among Vaccine Recipients -- United States, April 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccine After Reports of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Among Vaccine Recipients -- United States, April 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-04-27
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Addressing the COVID-19 Crisis's Indirect Health Impacts for Women and Girls
From the Abstract: "When health crises like COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] emerge, the shocks to economic, social, and health systems can have different implications for women and girls, with gendered impacts across various dimensions of wellbeing. This paper focuses on how the pandemic has been affecting women's and girl's health. It begins with a conceptual framework illustrating how the pandemic, associated response measures, economic contraction and different coping strategies intersect with underlying gender norms and inequality in ways that differentially affect the health and wellbeing of women and girls. It then provides a snapshot of the existing and evolving evidence as it relates to key health services and outcomes for women and girls in low- and middle-income countries, focusing primarily on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The paper examines some ways national governments have sought to maintain provision of essential health services and reviews the extent to which donor institutions have prioritized financial, technical, and other forms of support to mitigate disruptions. It concludes by highlighting existing gaps, opportunities, and promising strategies that donors and governments should pursue to address indirect harms to women's and girl's health during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis."
Center for Global Development
Krubiner, Carleigh B.; O'Donnell, Megan; Kaufman, Julia . . .
2021-04
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Shot at Recovery: 'Measuring Corporate Commitments Towards a Free, Fair, and Accessible COVID-19 Vaccine - an Update of the Original Published in October 2020'
From the Document: "In this brief, which has been updated since its first edition in October of 2020, we take a look at the five leading US-funded COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines (approved and still in clinical trial) to better understand the commitments made by the corporations to a free, fair and accessible COVID-19 vaccine. For perspective, we also place these commitments to an accessible COVID-19 vaccine in the context of the companies' other financial commitments to shareholder payouts and CEO compensation. Note that for reasons of scope and availability of information, this brief does not attempt to cover the commitments of other advanced COVID-19 vaccine developers, such as those developed in Russia and China."
Oxfam International
2021-04-22
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Taiwan's COVID-19 and Pandemic Experience: What Are the Lessons for Canada?
From the Document: "British Columbia recorded over 1,000 cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] on March 31, 2021. Taiwan has recorded that many cases in total. Only 10 people have passed away from the disease in Taiwan. These numbers seem impossible, an exception that only islands like New Zealand or Taiwan could possibly achieve. Nothing could be further from the truth. Taiwan shows how to learn lessons from previous failures and ensure that when the next pandemic comes, Canada is ready. Taiwan officially contacted the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019 to note concerns around human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus. Unlike most other governments around the world, Taiwanese officials acted swiftly in early January. By mid-January, COVID-19 was listed as a category 5 communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Control Act: it was deemed an emerging contagious disease that required mandatory quarantines and reporting. After this legal categorization, Taiwan created the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) on January 20 to run the country's all-of-society response and to coordinate between ministries. [...] From April to December 2020, Taiwan went '255 days' [hyperlink] without a locally transmitted COVID-19 case."
Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Tworek, Heidi
2021-04
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 23, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Workers' Compensation Claim Rates and Costs for Musculoskeletal Disorders Related to Overexertion Among Construction Workers -- Ohio, 2007-2017"; "Airport Traveler Testing Program for SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] -- Alaska, June-November 2020"; "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreaks in Correctional Facilities with Work-Release Programs -- Idaho, July-November 2020"; "Laboratory Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Reduction Through Physically Distanced Seating in Aircraft Cabins Using Bacteriophage Aerosol -- November 2020"; "'Notes from the Field': Multistate Outbreak of 'Escherichia coli' O26 Infections Linked to Raw Flour -- United States, 2019"; and "'QuickStats': Age-Adjusted Death Rates for Alzheimer Disease Among Adults Aged
≥65 Years, by Sex -- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1999-2019." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-04-23
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Coronavirus Spreads Through Africa [map]
From the Website: "'The coronavirus pandemic has spread rapidly since it arrived in Africa. This time series analysis tracks the logarithmic dissemination of COVID-19 across the continent.'"
National Defense University. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
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Effects of Scientific Messages and Narratives About Vaccination
From the Abstract: "A fundamental challenge complicates news decisions about covering vaccine side effects: although serious vaccine side effects are rare, less severe ones do occur occasionally. The study was designed to test whether a side effect message could induce vaccine hesitancy and whether that could be countered by pro-vaccine messages about vaccine safety. A large (N = 2,345), nationally representative experiment was conducted by randomly exposing participants to one of six videos about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine edited from news programs produced during the 2019 measles outbreak in the United States. The design was a 2x3 factorial crossing the presence or absence of a hesitancy- inducing narrative message with a pro-vaccine science-supporting message (i.e., no message, science-supporting expert message, or pro-vaccine narrative message), leading to a total of six conditions. A general linear model was used to assess the effects of these videos on respondents' (1) vaccine risk perceptions, (2) policy views on vaccination, (3) willingness to encourage others to vaccinate their children, and (4) intention to send a pro-vaccine letter to their state representative. Findings indicated that the science-supporting expert message about vaccine safety led to higher pro-vaccine evaluations relative to other conditions [e.g., b = -0.17, p < .001, a reduction in vaccine risk perceptions of 0.17 as compared to the control]. There was also suggestive evidence that the hesitancy-inducing narrative may limit the effectiveness of a science-supporting expert message, although this finding was not consistent across different outcomes. When shown alone the hesitancy-inducing narrative did not shift views and intentions, but more research is needed to ascertain whether exposure to such messages can undercut the pro-vaccine influence of science-supporting (expert) ones. All in all, however, it is clear that science-supporting messages are effective and therefore worthwhile in combating vaccine misinformation."
PLoS ONE
Kuru, Ozan; Stecula, Dominik Andrzej; Lu, Hang . . .
2021-03-24
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Medicaid and Fiscal Federalism During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Abstract: "We analyze the effects of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic on state and local government finances, with an emphasis on health spending needs and the role of the Medicaid program. We arrive at three conclusions. First, we find that nationwide, and over the entirety of the federal budget window, the enhanced federal matching funds are of roughly the same magnitude as expected increases in state Medicaid costs. There is a difference in timing, however, as projected relief funds are more concentrated in the near term than projected spending needs. Second, we show that there is substantial variation in states' exposure to increases in Medicaid program costs. Third, we evaluate the extent to which federal aid has been targeted at states with large increases in Medicaid costs. We show that the enhanced Medicaid matching funds are quite weakly correlated with variations in states' cost increases. In contrast, the state aid formula in the American Recovery Plan Act appears, to at least a moderate degree, to direct dollars toward states with large increases in their Medicaid enrollments."
National Bureau of Economic Research
Clemens, Jeffrey; Ippolito, Benedic N.; Veuger, Stan
2021-04
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Island Voices and Covid-19: Vulnerability and Resilience, Views from 'The Strategist'
From the Introduction: "This Strategic Insights report is being published as part of an ASPI [Australian Strategic Policy Institute] project that focuses on the vulnerabilities of Indo-Pacific island states in the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] era. It presents a series of views on ways that insiders and external observers have viewed the vulnerabilities and resilience of island countries in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. All of these contributions have appeared as posts on 'The Strategist' [hyperlink]. They don't try to offer a sequential account of events or perceptions but represent a collection of responses to the crisis. The authors were not asked to address a single issue but, rather, were encouraged to focus on issues of relevance to them. The result is a mosaic rather than a portrait of nearly a year of living with the tensions posed by the pandemic. Two key themes do tend to dominate this mosaic. One concerns the way vulnerabilities are expressed as challenges. The second identifies the opportunities that resilience can create. Many small island states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans lack the resilience in medical infrastructure--physical and human--to absorb the onslaught of the pandemic if it had hit them with the ferocity of the European or American experience. While this has not occurred (and may not, if an effective vaccine reaches them soon), their economic resilience has been put under serious pressure by the policies adopted to manage the pandemic's continuing public health threat."
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Brewster, David; Herr, Richard
2021-04-13?
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International Cooperation for the Coronavirus Combat: Results, Lessons and Way Ahead
From the Document: "More than 100 countries and regions have now reported confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. Outside China, the number of newly confirmed cases has approached 30,000, with South Korea, Japan, Italy, and Iran being the worst hit. The WHO [World Health Organization] has not declared COVID-19 [novel coronavirus 2019] a pandemic, but, nonetheless, upgraded the global risk of the outbreak to 'very high' on February 28. Threatened by a disease that is more contagious than SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome], will the world unify in solidarity to stop it from becoming a pandemic? Or will nations be so overwhelmed by growing fears as to adopt beggar-thy-neighbor policies, weakening the foundations of global public health cooperation? Is the fast-spreading virus a wake-up call for the international community to act swiftly and in concert to build a safer globalized world? Or does it portend further deglobalization in a world already beset by virulent nationalism?"
Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
Chen, Dongxiao; Chuanying, Lu; Cheng, Baozhi . . .
2020-03
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Coronavirus Battle in China: Process and Prospect
From the Document: "Since the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic broke out in Wuhan in late December 2019, the Chinese government has taken robust measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus, most notably a full quarantine on Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and strong control and preventive measures in such metropolitan areas as Beijing and Shanghai as well as other population centers around China. These efforts have received wide media coverage at home and abroad and major questions have been raised as to: first, why did the government impose an unprecedented lockdown on Wuhan? Second, are the Chinese central government and local authorities competent enough to contain the virus? Third, what are the negative effects of the epidemic on China's economy? And fourth, what kind of international cooperation is required to ensure human security in the face of epidemics? As the combat against the epidemic is still evolving, here are some tentative answers and assessments given by a task force specializing in global governance issues at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies."
Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
Liu, Kan; Chuanying, Lu; Zhang, Haibing . . .
2020-01
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Incidence and Magnitude of the Health Costs of In-Person Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Abstract: "The health costs of in-person schooling during the pandemic, if any, fall primarily on the families of students, largely due to the fact that students significantly outnumber teachers. Data from North Carolina, Wisconsin, Australia, England, and Israel covering almost 80 million person-days in school help assess the magnitude of the fatality risks of in-person schooling (with mitigation protocols), accounting for the age and living arrangements of students and teachers. The risks of in-person schooling to teachers are comparable to the risks of commuting by automobile. Valued at a VSL [value of a statistical life] of $10 million, the average daily fatality cost ranges from $0.01 for an unvaccinated young teacher living alone to as much as $29 for an elderly and unvaccinated teacher living with an elderly and unvaccinated spouse. COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] risk avoidance may also be more amenable to Bayesian updating and selective protection than automobile fatalities are. The results suggest that economic behaviors can sometimes invert epidemiological patterns when it comes to the spread of infectious diseases in human populations."
Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics
Mulligan, Casey B.
2021-03
