According to the IOUSA No Okay document, "There is an economic argument whereby deficits can reduce the wealth of future generations. If the economy is at its capacity (e.g. everyone who wants to work is already employed), then if we run a large deficit due to additional government spending or tax cuts, then we may be pulling people away from building up the economy's capacity. Specifically, the government's borrowing needs can lead to higher interest rates". Thinking about this statement, how would this statement be viewed now during a global economic issue. 

Do you think this statement would stay true or what would change? Does this statement set us up for a recession?

 

Women have been disproportionately impacted by the economic impacts of COVID-19 for multiple reasons. First, according to Brookings (2020) (Links to an external site.) and the U.S. Department of Labor (2022) (Links to an external site.), women are more likely than men to work low-wage jobs, with Black and Latina women making up a larger percentage of this difference. Second, when childcare centers and schools shut down for public health reasons, women more often than men had to quit their jobs and bear the burden of childcare (as well as other caretaking responsibilities). What are some other ways in which women and their families have been more severely economically impacted than men?

This phenomenon is not limited to the U.S. The IMF and UN Women (2021) (Links to an external site.) reported that the COVID-19 crisis "threatens decades of progress for women and girls, disproportionately impacting women's incomes, employment, and education opportunities." The organizations argue that "gender-responsive policies and budgeting" will "help mitigate the short-term impacts while also addressing long-term structural drivers of gender responsive recovery." 

What would gender-responsive budgeting look like locally, nationally, and/or globally? 

Do you think these strategies would be beneficial in the short and long term to both the economy and gender equity overall?

 What other policies or changes should be adopted to reduce the economic impact that the pandemic has had on women across the country and the world?