Back to Work: How Should We Rebuild Our Economy? - Issue Advisory (Downloadable PDF)

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 swiftly brought the US economy to a near standstill—more than 36 million people had lost their jobs by the summer. The Wall Street Journal estimated that one-quarter of all business activity shut down in a matter of weeks.

This issue advisory considers how we should rebuild the US economy when we emerge from the pandemic and the recession. What will our priorities be? What lessons should we learn from this experience? What can communities do to build a prosperous future?

This advisory presents three options for moving forward, each coming from a different perspective and each reflecting a different set of ideas about what should be done. Most people will find something to agree with in all three approaches, but each also has trade-offs, risks, or drawbacks that need to be taken into account and worked through. The options presented here are not ready-made solutions, but rather a starting point for weighing alternatives and reaching a sound judgment.

Option One: Jumpstart the Economy

Option Two: Move to a Sustainable Economy

Option Three: Put Domestic and Local Needs First