General News

California Dealing with High Unemployment

by

This Wall Street Journal article discusses the economic costs of the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the article elaborates on how California had an economic deficit prior to the coronavirus pandemic and is currently having difficulty funding is social welfare programs because it is being faced with abnormally high unemployment levels. https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-is-first-state-to-borrow-from-federal-government-to-make-unemployment-payments-11588617257?mod=hp_lead_pos2

“Greenhouse Gas Emissions Predicted to Fall Nearly 8% – Largest Decrease Ever,” NPR, April 30th, 2020

by

In an NPR article by Jennifer Ludden and Jeff Brady, the authors connect the dots between Covid-19 and the massive reduction in energy demand, and other influencing factors in the U.S./world economy. Their major claim is that this perfect storm, as a result of warmer winter combined with movement-restrictions related to Covid-19, will reduce greenhouse … Read more

Daley, et al., “Beware of studies claiming covid-19 death rates are smaller than expected,” Washington Post, April 28, 2020.

by

A must-read. Here is a group of medical scientists explaining in lay person’s language why the tried-and-true methods established to determine “death rates” (more accurately case fatality rates) are necessary before making policy decisions based on reports based on faulty methods. The upshot: in this case, politicians will be well served using the best scientific … Read more