Buzz
Historian Walter Scheidel famously stated, 'Equality has always been born out of suffering.'
Currently, COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe, causing the world economy to teeter on the brink of collapse. Undoubtedly, this is a period of profound sorrow—a time when our lives are disrupted and shrouded in unpredictability.
As increasing numbers of people adapt to quarantine living, we are embarking on what can be described as a worldwide social experiment. Concepts that were merely discussed in previous years are now being implemented on an unprecedented scale.
This era will undoubtedly be challenging, but it will also serve as the catalyst for remarkable and transformative changes.
10. Remote Work Revolution
Prior to COVID-19, a mere 7% of U.S. employees had access to remote work opportunities. This doesn’t imply that 7% were actively working from home—it simply highlights that 93% of Americans were informed it wasn’t a possibility.
Now, remote work has become essential. While exact global figures are unavailable, Cisco reported that their video conferencing tools in China experienced a 22-fold increase in usage compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The world is currently partaking in an unprecedented remote work experiment, offering a firsthand look at its long-term viability.
Research on this topic is already underway, and the findings are highly encouraging. One study revealed that remote workers gain an additional 16.8 productive days annually.
These studies have long existed, but if employers witness the outcomes firsthand, they’ll find it impossible to argue that allowing remote work post-pandemic will harm their business.
This shift could significantly boost our overall happiness. Over the last ten years, the average commute has grown by 20 minutes, and research indicates that this extra time impacts job satisfaction as much as a 19% reduction in salary.
9. Universal Basic Income
Just a few months ago, universal basic income seemed like a distant fantasy. The concept of providing every citizen with a monthly stipend, regardless of employment, was occasionally mentioned in political campaigns, but most nations considered it far from imminent.
However, for the foreseeable future, it will become a reality. The UK has pledged to cover 80% of workers' wages, Denmark has committed to up to 90%, and the U.S. is preparing to distribute $1,200 to nearly every adult citizen.
While none of these initiatives perfectly mirror universal basic income, they come remarkably close. They will serve as practical trials, offering insights into how such policies impact society.
It’s premature to predict the outcomes. Finland’s 2017-2018 universal basic income experiment revealed participants were 'happier but unemployed,' a trend that might emerge globally. Regardless, post-pandemic discussions on this topic will shift from theoretical to practical.
8. Automation
The manufacturing sector has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Factory workers face immense challenges, as remote work isn’t feasible for hands-on roles, yet staying home isn’t always an option either.
However, for fully automated 'lights out' factories run entirely by robots, a pandemic poses no threat.
Businesses leveraging automation are outperforming those dependent on densely packed human labor, and this trend hasn’t gone unnoticed. For instance, Caja Robotics reported a 25% surge in inquiries over the last month alone.
Many manufacturing firms, along with other industries, are likely to adopt automation to stay afloat.
China has already begun using drones instead of delivery drivers, noting that they are quicker and more reliable than human employees.
They’ve even tested robotic hospitals, where machines handle tasks like temperature checks, meal delivery, and room disinfection to minimize human contact with potential disease carriers.
Once the pandemic subsides, your role might very well be taken over by automation.
7. Online Learning
Schools across nearly every nation affected by COVID-19 are closing, thrusting parents and educators into an entirely new educational paradigm.
For the foreseeable future, online learning will become the standard. Regardless of a teacher’s technical expertise, they’ll need to adapt to delivering education digitally.
Initial responses suggest that online education won’t gain widespread acceptance post-pandemic. So far, teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly critical.
A significant issue is that online learning exacerbates inequalities. Students without parental support fall further behind, while those lacking internet access are nearly entirely left out.
Nevertheless, educators worldwide are receiving an intensive introduction to 21st-century teaching methods. They’re certain to return with innovative ideas that will revolutionize children’s education.
At least for those who return. Many parents are opting for homeschooling, and since homeschooled students often outperform their public school peers on standardized tests, it’s likely that numerous families will choose to continue this approach.
6. The Emergence of Big Government
Meghan McCain recently remarked, 'There are no Libertarians in a pandemic.'
Whether this is beneficial or not remains debatable, but there’s substantial evidence to support its validity. Since COVID-19 began spreading globally, people have increasingly turned to strong governmental leadership.
Socialist measures are being adopted globally, even in nations governed by conservative or libertarian leaders. The U.S. government is preparing to allocate $1 trillion to combat COVID-19, while the UK’s Boris Johnson has declared that spending will have no limits.
Big government is experiencing a resurgence, and in some regions, it’s taking extreme forms.
The Israeli government has begun utilizing citizens’ cell phone location data to track individuals who’ve been near an infected person. Those identified receive a text instructing them to self-quarantine immediately.
McCain’s statement is exaggerated, naturally. Libertarians still exist, but their influence has diminished. Even if smaller government regains popularity post-pandemic, certain legislation previously deemed impossible will likely have been enacted.
5. Mail-In Voting
On April 15th, amid a pandemic devastating their nation, South Koreans will be required to queue at polling stations to vote in the 2020 election.
This poses a significant challenge, and the country has had little time to prepare. Their current plan is far from ideal: voters must wear masks and disposable gloves, and everyone’s temperature will be checked before entering.
The situation is likely to be chaotic. Voter turnout is expected to plummet, serving as a stark warning to other nations.
The U.S. will be particularly impacted, as primaries are already in progress and the federal election is set for November. Americans will need to revise their voting procedures this year, and these changes are likely to become permanent.
Two-thirds of Americans already express concerns about in-person voting, and efforts for reform are underway. Texas Democrats have sued for mail-in voting rights, while other states are urging voters to submit ballots exclusively by mail.
This shift could significantly benefit democracy. When Utah implemented mail-in voting, voter turnout increased by 7%.
4. The Decline of Small Businesses
Many industries are struggling currently, but bars and restaurants are among the hardest hit.
Countries like France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK have closed all bars and restaurants, and in places without such mandates, few patrons are dining out.
For the foreseeable future, these establishments and their staff will rely solely on government support for income. Many won’t be able to endure the financial strain.
J.P. Morgan estimates that the typical small business can only endure 27 days under these conditions before facing bankruptcy.
This will drastically alter our world, as many local establishments may not survive, while larger corporations will endure.
When people are ready to dine out again and servers seek employment, major chains like McDonald’s will still be standing, reshaping the landscape.
Currently, half of all Americans are employed by small businesses, but this figure is likely to decrease significantly post-crisis.
3. A New Political Movement
COVID-19 is severely impacting our health, but its economic toll is even greater. Analysts at J.P. Morgan Chase state: 'There is no longer any doubt … We now believe the COVID-19 crisis will trigger a global recession.'
Many will lose their jobs. One analyst forecasts that 400,000 Americans will face unemployment in the coming weeks alone. By the time this ends, the situation could worsen, with another expert predicting 7.4 million job losses in the leisure and hospitality sector.
The most vulnerable will bear the brunt. While office employees can work from home, servers and warehouse workers will endure the harshest effects of the pandemic.
This will be painful, but as Schiedel noted, equality has always emerged from hardship.
This crisis will teach us valuable lessons, and once the true implications of COVID-19 are understood, demands for change will surge. Experts anticipate a revolution, with analyst Cathy O’Neil likening it to 'Occupy Wall Street 2.0.'
COVID-19 will challenge us profoundly, but once the crisis subsides, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of societal flaws. With luck, the world may emerge as a better place.
2. Free and Universal Health Care
Following the 1918 Spanish Flu, author Laura Spinney notes that nations worldwide 'adopted the idea of socialized medicine.'
This was a lasting legacy of the last major global pandemic. People began to recognize that the health of the poor impacted everyone, sparking early conversations about universal health care.
Today, only a few countries lack universal health care, with one developed nation among them. This crisis could be the catalyst for the rest of the world to adopt free healthcare systems.
41% of Americans now express greater support for universal health care following the COVID-19 pandemic, and policy trends are aligning in the same direction.
The U.S. has already committed to providing free coronavirus testing, and some lawmakers are advocating for free treatment as well.
If free treatment isn’t implemented before the pandemic ends, public demand will undoubtedly grow. Some individuals have faced treatment bills as high as $35,000, ensuring that calls for reform will intensify.
1. Reduced Dependence on China
COVID-19 struck China at an inopportune moment, amid a fierce trade war, exacerbating their challenges.
Until now, the world has depended heavily on China as its primary manufacturing center. China produces 20% of global goods—more than any other nation—and plays an even larger role in healthcare, supplying 90% of America’s antibiotics.
However, as China faces quarantine and struggles to maintain production, the risks of relying on a single source for global supply chains have become glaringly apparent.
The global shortage of ventilators and face masks highlights the impracticality of depending solely on China, especially given its severe impact from the pandemic.
Several nations are already shifting manufacturing back to their own territories, while others are considering diversifying production across multiple locations.
Currently, there’s no alternative. We must begin relying on other countries for manufacturing, a shift that will have lasting repercussions for China even after the pandemic ends.
