Pandemic histories are useful for understanding COVID-19, but how they connect with race, public health, revolution, labour and colonialism are needed to explain the present and predict the future.
It will take a long time for the full economic impact of COVID-19 to be known, but a careful scrutiny of labour market outcomes over the next couple of months will shed some light.
Our experts look at why people of colour are being hit harder by COVID-19, New Zealand’s success in eliminating the virus, and the latest on drug trials.
Ilan Wiesel, The University of Melbourne; Liss Ralston, Swinburne University of Technology, dan Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology
You’d think falling housing prices might help people on low incomes, but history shows downturns often increase inequality. And many buyers who took out big loans during the housing boom are at risk.
Maids were among Brazil’s earliest COVID-19 victims, infected by employers who had been to Italy. Now 39% of Brazilian ‘domésticas’ have been let go, most without severance or sick leave.
South Africa’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic must now shift from a centrally regulated approach to one that enables participation and compliance by communities, workers and businesses.
Ilan Noy, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Without genuine global leadership the ability of economies to “build back better” after the disaster caused by COVID-19 will unfairly favour wealthier populations and nations.
Paul R. Carr, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)
The coronavirus feeds off of social and environmental injustice, exacerbating the wounds, scars and illnesses that existed prior to the pandemic. That’s why returning to ‘normal’ is not an option.
Ramaphosa’s call for a new social compact will fall on deaf ears unless there are some fundamental changes to the way in which the pandemic is being managed.