And, in all countries, the economic burden resulting from both the disease and public policy response—usually involving a partial or total lockdown—has most badly affected those least able to cope. These few, already privileged, will be in positions of power, wealth and influence, 5, 10 or 20 years later. Without doubt, covid and the response to it have already worsened existing economic and social cleavages, and will worsen them further. What is more, this is occurring at a time when wealth and income inequalities were already high and rising throughout the world, in both advanced and emerging economies. An unprecedented global crisis tells us a lot about what a society is made of, not just on the surface, but much deeper down.

Source: Mint September 20, 2020 15:22 UTC