Category: COVID-19

Introduction

COVID-19 is an infectious viral high-contagious disease with predominant damage to lung tissue. Pathognomonic clinical signs are respiratory failure and distress syndrome (Cennimo, 2020). In addition to these symptoms, patients complain about a dry cough, fever, and weakness. Although the first wave of coronavirus is already behind and the second wave is only gaining momentum, the whole world is especially hopeful for the rapid development of a vaccine that will significantly slow down the rate of spread of COVID-19. Thus, the analysis and evaluation of the progress of laboratory development of vaccines against this disease is a priority task with high social and medical value. This work investigates the phenomenon of vaccine development in the context of a coronavirus pandemic and discusses the progress already achieved.

Ways of Transmission

The transmission mechanism is called the method of moving an infectious agent from an infected organism to a susceptible organism in which infection occurs. The SARS-CoV-2 destroys the patients respiratory tract, mainly by localizing in the lungs, but there may be several pathways for the pathogen to enter the human body: the airborne and the dust pathways and the contact one (Cennimo, 2020). At the same time, after the end of the incubation period  which usually lasts about a week  a person does not necessarily begin to show symptomatic signs. In this case, the disease may be mild, and it follows that asymptomatic transmission can be claimed.

It is important to note that the extent of the pathogens spread can be estimated using some of the mathematical models, among which the SIR model and the model of variations should be highlighted. Using equation (Eq. 1), the researchers define the number of infected people in a closed population as a function of time. This formula provides preliminary information on the progression of COVID-19, although the interpretation of the results should be careful, as the formula requires some assumptions. The logical development of this model is the SIR variation: SEIR (Eq. 2), SIS (Eq. 3). Although these formulas derive from a common SIR model, they are very different from each other. For example, SEIR is used for truly dangerous epidemics with long incubation periods, while SIS is applicable for diseases that do not produce immunity: seasonal influenza or ODS.

To curb the pandemics spread, many states resort to radical measures, including full quarantine of the population. This allows limiting the number of social contacts and greatly relieves overcrowded medical clinics. A more rapid approach may be to track contacts, for example, using a mobile application (Sainz, 2020). This mechanism allows to assess of whether there are potential patients in the circle of human communication and thus provide preventive diagnostics.

Covid-19 Effects

The virus disease and the policy of response have significantly changed the life of humanity, showing the need for self-isolation, masks, and gloves, and social distance. For this reason, it is not a mistake to say that the lives of all age groups and ethnic groups have undergone significant changes. However, this effect is particularly noticeable for representatives of the vulnerable group: it concerns diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, and concomitant lower respiratory tract diseases (Diabetes, 2020). However, such effects are unlikely to have a long-term effect, as it is expected that early vaccine development will be able to prevent the development of the fourth and third waves of coronavirus. Thus, it can be assumed that within the next few years, COVID-19 will no longer be a problem on a planetary scale and will be among the controlled diseases.

Covid-19 Vaccination

The mechanism of mRNA of vaccines is reduced to creating artificial immunity by injection of genetic molecules SARS-CoV-2 into the body. The main advantages of such vaccines are their mRNA:

1. rapid degradation in the body after use,
2. relative ease of development,
3. they do not require significant financial costs (Mahalingam & Taylor, 2020).

However, these vaccines also have disadvantages:

• they are new, not yet proven vaccines,
• they are likely to cause a weak immune response,
• mRNA may theoretically fit into a patients genome.

Typically, mRNA vaccines contain a nucleotide sequence in which the synthesis of this spike protein is encrypted because it forms an enzymatic compound with the cell receptors, allowing the virus genome to penetrate the cytoplasm. In the short term, after the injection, the patients body enhances the immune response as it tries to fight the alien genome. However, this mRNA is not sufficient for the complete synthesis of SARS-CoV-2, so the immune system fights the synthesized spike proteins (Immune responses, 2020). Immunization allows the growth of stable antibodies in patients, demonstrating the bodys immunity to coronavirus infection. It should be understood that any vaccines are designed to infect the body with a pathogen easily, so even after mRNA vaccination, some symptoms of the disease are possible: it is a quite natural process (Wadman, 2020). For example, fever, fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and headache may be possible.

mRNA coronavirus vaccines should be made available to as many consumers as possible. According to manufacturers, genome vaccines should be stored in a cold room for thirty years, after which the natural denaturation of components begins (Moderna, 2020). This shelf life may be enough to transport the vaccine anywhere globally and provide the vaccine to anyone who wants it.

Planning for Future Pandemics

Some results can already be summarized to prevent new pandemics in the future. This may involve building a stock of personal protective equipment in short supply in 2020: masks and gloves. In addition, governments should provide centralized support to the population, ensuring equality of all actors, rather than creating an environment for state competition, as was the case in the United States. It is also worth continuing to develop cross-disciplinary integrations of specialists that were created to find effective political and medical solutions to the virus (The best time, 2020). Finally, policymakers should strengthen the development of protocols used in future epidemics in such a way that countries do not face serious financial constraints and that citizens and clinical organizations are willing.

Although the new sanitary rules have changed peoples lives, from the mandatory wearing of a mask to distance learning, one can expect a return to normal life soon. This projected layout includes the immediate removal of quarantine measures, public facilities opening, and a return to offline work (Ghosh, 2020). In time, national borders will be opened and travel restored. Simultaneously, the natural cycle of peoples social life will be revived, and the number of contacts will return to the same value.

Conclusion

So, the pandemic of 2020 had a serious impact on public life, changing the usual order of billions of people. The development of a vaccine becomes a solution that will create immunity for citizens and gradually bring the world back to normal. That is why it is so important to continue studying and analyzing the various vaccine technologies offered today. Although coronavirus infection has caused significant historical events and deaths of one and a half million people, it has also shown the ineffectiveness of existing health systems. Thus, the lessons learned can help governments to withstand future pandemics.

References

The best time to prevent the next pandemic is now: Countries join voices for better emergency preparedness. (2020). WHO. 

Cennimo, D. J. (2020). What is COVID-19? Medscape.

Cooper, I., Mondal, A., & Antonopoulos, C. G. (2020). A SIR model assumption for the spread of COVID-19 in different communities. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 139, 1-7.

Diabetes, T. L. (2020). COVID-19 and diabetes: a co-conspiracy?. The lancet. Diabetes & Endocrinology, 8(10), 801.

Ghosh, I. (2020). COVID-19: This is when life will return to normal, according to the experts. World Economic Forum. 

Immune response to COVID-19s spike protein  The secret to a successful vaccine? (2020). Medical Press. 

Mahalingam, S. & Taylor, A. (2020). From adenoviruses to RNA: The pros and cons of different COVID vaccine technologies. The Conversation.

Moderna. (2020). Moderna announces longer shelf life for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate at refrigerated temperatures. Web.

Nakamura, G. M., & Martinez, A. S. (2019). Hamiltonian dynamics of the SIS epidemic model with stochastic fluctuations. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-9.

Sainz, F. (2020). Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology. Apple. 

SEIR and SEIRS models. (n.d.). IDM. 2020. 

Wadman, M. (2020). Public needs to prep for vaccine side effects. Science.

The COVID-19 vaccine can protect people from getting infected by the virus. However, the scientific examinations of the vaccine side effects show that many dangerous conditions could cause severe illnesses among the vaccinated people (Kleine-Tebbe et al., 2021). The author of the practical research points out that the most significant side effect of the vaccination is severe allergy among patients who have never experienced any other kind of allergy (Kleine-Tebbe et al., 2021). Therefore, the consequences of the vaccination can be unexpected, even for healthy people.

The intensive allergic reaction can even cause such a life-threatening process as anaphylaxis. Scientists stated that, according to the recent data, there is a high probability of anaphylaxis occurring after the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, 2021). Anaphylaxis is a highly dangerous condition because it can cause a lack of oxygen which can provoke coronary heart disease or even more severe heart diseases (Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, 2021). Therefore, even though medicine has found a way to fight the virus, there are many factors to consider when vaccinating patients to avoid negative consequences and reduce risks.

Significance of the Topic to Nursing Practice

Analyzing the negative side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine is relevant for the nursing practice in reducing the risks of patients experiencing allergic reactions and other negative consequences of the vaccination. The recent article where the authors analyze the vaccine structure states that it is hard to determine which particular element can cause severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis (Hamelmann et al., 2021). Thus, the vaccination can be dangerous for many people, especially for the ones with allergies. There is a possibility that the first dose of the vaccine will not harm the patients health. However, practice showed that the most dangerous side effects appear after the second dose and disturb mainly the heart and respiratory systems (Hamelmann et al., 2021). Therefore, medical organizations providing anti-COVID-19 vaccinations should scrutinize each patients situation and prescribe the vaccine only when there are no potential risks.

It is necessary to provide on-spot help to the patient who falls victim to the adverse side effects of the vaccine. In order to develop the healthcare services and continue vaccination aiming to the creation of COVID-19 immunity, the locations administering vaccines need to have the necessary equipment to help patients overcome all the consequences of the vaccine: from the high temperature to the life-threatening anaphylaxis (Hamelmann et al., 2021). The authors of the article suggest that immunotherapy injections should be free for people who have difficulties with vaccination (Hamelmann et al., 2021). The author also states that the doctors should monitor the patients state after being vaccinated for three months minimum (Kleine-Tebbe, 2021). Therefore, after-vaccination support is a crucial element of each medical organizations services.

PICOT questions

1. In adult patients with hypotension, what is the effect of the first dose COVID-19 vaccine on the heart work versus the second dose during a 2-week tracking period?
2. In adult patients with allergy and hypertension after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, what is the effect of the hospital observation on the patients health versus outpatient observation during a 3-month tracking period?
3. In adult patients with anaphylaxis, which appeared after the COVID-19 vaccination, what is the effect of the tracheostomy on the restoration of breathing versus intubation during the first hour after the adverse shock?

References

Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (2021). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 70, 4651.

Hamelmann, E., Kleine-Tebbe1, J., Klimek, L., Pfaar, O., Taube, C., Wagenmann, M., Werfel, T., & Worm, M. (2021). Severe allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine: Statement and practical consequences. Allergologie Select, 5, 2628. Web.

The global COVID-9 pandemic disrupted normal life on the planet; nations worldwide had to close their borders while millions of citizens were forced to stay home and maintain social distancing. Today, the harshest measures are already in the past in the majority of countries, and now the main agenda is overcoming the negative effect of lockdowns on the economy. Yet, there are also numerous issues which are largely ignored in society and not mentioned in the speeches of politicians since these problems do not concern the well-being of the economy. One of such issues is depression which many people who had to quarantine and avoid any social contact experienced. The problem of depression caused by the pandemic is not talked about much in the media because newspapers and magazines try to encourage people to stay home. Thus, they intentionally minimize the amount of news related to the negative sides of having a secluded lifestyle. That is why, in this blog post, I would like to share an insight into the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of thousands of people and provide advice on how to reduce its impact.

The feeling of loneliness is the primary symptom that accompanied the isolation during the pandemic, and the reason here is obvious. Socializing with friends and family members was largely erased from the lives of people, and, in many cases, individuals were left completely alone without anyone else around them. According to one survey, in the US, after the introduction of various stay-at-home orders, more than forty percent of respondents reported feeling lonelier than usual (Ducharme). Not having a partner to talk to and express ones concerns to may cause loneliness to transform into a harsher condition such as depression and anxiety. Additionally, other problems may contribute to the worsening of symptoms and ultimately aggravate loneliness even further. One of the economic consequences of the pandemic was a rapid loss of jobs. Many workers who did not make much money before the pandemic suddenly stopped having any source of income at all. Thus, when a person can no longer communicate with their colleagues and loses their income, their loneliness can become even more severe and cause them to experience emotional distress.

Moreover, if a person previously had instances of depression and anxiety, their loneliness can serve as a trigger capable of bringing back these conditions. There are millions of individuals who struggle with mental health problems worldwide, and situations, when they have to remain alone for a long period of time are especially dangerous for them. Under normal circumstances, the healthcare system can successfully manage the inflow of patients who have depressive episodes. Yet, during the pandemic, the risk for all people to have a depressive episode instantly significantly increased, while the chance of receiving medical help decreased due to the hospitals focus on the virus and the inability of many to pay for doctors services. According to scientific research, in the US alone, during the pandemic, the prevalence of depression in respondents was three times higher than before the pandemic (Ettman et al. 12). The study also found that the primary causes of the condition were lack of savings and the increase in the number of stressors. Such evidence demonstrates the fact that the pandemic had a significant role in the rise of depressive episodes in the country.

The current pandemic can certainly be considered a traumatic experience for many people, and looking at other similar events in history; one can better understand what to expect in terms of its effect on mental health. For instance, after the attack on September 11 in 2001, there were many individuals who became severely depressed and had numerous symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Nandi 305). During the pandemic, the number of deaths surpassed the number of casualties in the aforementioned terrorist attack, and there is a chance that many people got depression because of losing their close friends and loved ones. Such experiences inevitably affect the quality of life and mental stability of any individual, as well as increase the risk of anxiety and depression. Moreover, taking into consideration the previously mentioned circumstances such as loss of a job and lack of money, the death of a friend, partner, or a parent becomes especially difficult to deal with. The failure on the part of medical professionals or other people to a person who has a depressive episode can entail extremely negative consequences, and there are already instances known to the public.

The fact that is rarely acknowledged by people is that the pandemic exacerbated the mental health problems of people and made them once again face their issues and try to address them. In many cases, such attempts were not successful and had sad endings. Suicide is one of the worst outcomes of the pandemic and lockdowns. It cannot be said with complete certainty that the pandemic caused the suicide rates to soar, yet it is obvious that there are numerous occasions when people decided to end their life because they simply could not cope with a new lifestyle. One of the examples is the passing of a sixteen-year-old, Spencer Smith, whose mental health deteriorated because he was not able to attend school and interact with his peers in person (Burke). The virus itself did not kill him, but the situation it created ultimately claimed his life. Spencers case is not the only one in the country and, needless to say, in the world. Therefore, it is of great significance for everyone who knows individuals struggling with depression to help them.

It is clear that the most severe episodes of depression and anxiety should be managed only with the help of doctors in special facilities, yet under the current circumstances, every person must focus on assisting those in need. Prevention must be at the center of the effort to improve the mental health of people while they are self-isolating. According to one source, in 2020, fifty-five percent of workers reported moderate or increased levels of anxiety (Willis Towers Watson). In such cases, people can start feeling better simply after having a conversation with a friend over the Internet. For example, studies demonstrate that elderly adults can begin experiencing less loneliness after communicating with someone using a video chat or instant messages (Ducharme). Such simple measures can help avoid significant mental crises and their possible negative outcomes, including suicide. According to experts, mindfulness training, as well as cognitive behavior therapy, can positively affect both young and older people in terms of minimizing the feeling of loneliness (Ducharme). Thus, by practicing these procedures, any person can help themselves and their loved ones to tackle their mental health issues and be able to cope with challenging moments of the lockdown.

Yet, individual efforts cannot replace a large government-funded campaign that would warn people of the impact of the pandemic on mental health and provide details on how to receive support. According to Ettman et al. (12), It seems important to recognize the potential for the mental health consequences of COVID-19 to be large in scale, to recognize that these effects can be long-lasting, and to consider preventative action to help mitigate its effects. Informing people and providing them with assistance will allow countries to seamlessly transition into normal life after the end of the pandemic.

My decision to write this blog post is based on the desire to let more people know about the risks of the pandemic to mental well-being, which are often ignored in the media. Loneliness is a feeling which inevitably emerges in all individuals who have to self-isolate and do not receive enough social contact. Additionally, the current pandemic forced numerous businesses to downsize, and thousands of people lost their jobs, as well as income. These problems coupled with loneliness can quickly trigger the onset of a depressive episode or anxiety, which, in turn, can have sad consequences. During the pandemic, there were several instances of suicides linked to the deceased persons inability to cope with a challenging period in their life. That is why it is essential for every individual to do everything they can to support people who are struggling with mental issues due to the pandemic. While the government also must intervene and conduct a nationwide campaign to highlight the problem of depression and offer solutions.

References

COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Worldmeter, 2021. Web.

Burke, Minyvonne. Maine teen dies by suicide after struggling to cope with pandemic, father says. NBC News. 2020. Web.

Ducharme, Jamie. COVID-19 Is Making Americas Loneliness Epidemic Even Worse. Time, 2020. Web.

Ettman, Catherine K., et al. Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open, vol. 3, no. 9, 2020, pp. 1-12.

Nandi, Arijit, et al. Probable Cigarette Dependence, PTSD, and Depression after an Urban Disaster: Results from a Population Survey of New York City Residents 4 Months after September 11, 2001. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, vol. 68, no. 4, 2005, pp. 299-310.

Willis Towers Watson. Infographic: Employees Struggle with Stress, Anxiety or Depression during COVID-19. 2020. Web.

Currently, the whole world is in the midst of a global crisis, caused by the appearance of Coronavirus. The pandemic has affected every person, every family in its own way, forcing people to adapt and adopt new ways of living. Many people have suffered because of Covid-19 and some even lost their loved ones to the disease. The economic and social situation is unstable, and many organizations are still managing their crisis response in accordance with recent events. The spread of the disease is strictly country-specific, and to discuss the issue in more details, taking an in-depth look into its impact on a specific country proves to be more productive. In light of recent events, it can be useful to examine the impact of the coronavirus on life in Africa, its culture, habits, and worldviews. To view the people and traditions of Africa from a global perspective, an inspection of one of its major countries, Nigeria in particular, must be taken. This essay will focus on the spread and effect the Covid-19 pandemic had in Nigeria, its cultural impact.

The Spread

As documented by the national public agencies, the spread of the Pandemic started around late-March to early-April in Africa and has been rising in numbers ever since. While accounting for only 5% total of the affected world population, the quick spread of the disease is nevertheless concerning (Mwai and Giles). Nigerian infected population totals about 46 thousand people, which is the third-highest number of cases in Africa (Mwai and Giles). With a lack of proper diagnosis available, many potential carriers are overlooked, worsening the situation and spreading the disease. This means that even the data acquired by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control might not fully reflect the severity of the situation.

The death rate is fairly low, around 0.5 percent, which is explained by the average population being rather young (Mwai and Giles). Relative to other African countries, Nigeria is concerningly noted for not doing enough tests for the Coronavirus (Mwai and Giles). It also suffers from the same lack of available research data that plagues all other African countries and prevents them from properly estimating the risks. Covid-19 disrupts the flow of life for everyone in the country, imposing many restrictions and putting people at risk. On a brighter note, according to the World Health Organization, the rising trend for the Covid-19 spread is starting to subside, and the number of diagnoses cases is dropping. This occurrence is caused by the absence of new cases, which caused the number of infected people to slowly drop.

An Analysis of the Initial Response

As a way to gain a better understanding of the topic and the timeline of the events, the initial appearance of the Coronavirus in Nigeria will be conducted. It was documented that the disease first appeared there on February 27, 2020. By April 11 of the same year, there were at least 318 confirmed cases and 190 deaths (Adegboye et al.). The researchers document that the virus had spread exponentially during the course of the first 45 days, and has been doubling in growth at the speed of about 9.8 days (Adegboye et al.). By analyzing the speed of the spread the researchers have found that while Nigeria follows the same general trends as all other counties, the number of cases there is significantly lower than in other parts of the world. This assessment allows one to understand that Nigeria was not affected by the Covid-19 as hard as it could have been. Since no specific measures need to be implemented, the main goal is to minimize the losses and stop the spread of the disease. The main priorities for counteraction are to stop disease transmission on a local level.

The Media Response and Audience Reaction

One of the most important facets of crisis resolution is mass media coverage. The information provided by the news and the internet is what keeps most people well-informed about the current events and the measures that might need to be taken. The portrayal of the issue by the media determines the media response, and can majorly influence the public perception. During the pandemic, presenting accurate, up to date information is crucial to the well-being of the people. Given all the reasons mentioned above, the examination of the media coverage of the Covid-19 in Nigeria is an important part of the discussion. A study employing a quantitative design examined the newspaper coverage of Covid-19 and the reaction to it, from January to March of 2020. The results have shown that the newspapers were dominated by news reports and opinion pieces, with all major publications reporting in the outbreak to some extent (Nwakpu et al.). The authors of the study conclude by stating that the media has helped the Nigerians sufficiently prepare for the pandemic and take precautionary actions (Nwakpu et al.). This analysis shows that timely reporting has helped decrease the impact of the coronavirus and stop the disease from spreading.

Impact on Education

Because of the spread of the global pandemic, education has suffered major setbacks all around the globe. With a forced transition to online learning, many schools and educational institutions were forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Nigerian institutions are not an exception. The extreme conditions have exposed the troubling state of the education sector and the problems of the school system (Abari et al.). Underfunded institutions are struggling to provide quality education to many students forced to stay at home. The strain on the education system has revealed the severe problems with the funding and the quality of teaching. Many students were forced to skip school, and lost much progress due to the pandemic.

A scholar concerned with this topic notes that the pandemic has emerged to break and collapse the walls that surround our education sector, stating that the crisis offered a new, fresh look at the overarching problems the Nigerian education faces (Abari et al. 39). The author also says that the stakeholders in education must take this opportunity to reflect and embrace the digital shift to increase the quality of education and follow the global trends in the industry (Abari et al.). The only way to effectively remedy the system is to improve it in response to global trends and maintain a high quality of education.

Impact on Economy and Life

The Coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the world economy and the lives of people. It is undeniable that an event of such a grand scale and severity affects all countries in the world, but the specific consequences of each place are unique. In Nigeria, the pandemic has put a big strain on the population and has left many poor people with no financial support. As noted in the Hope Ikwes paper, Nigeria does not have a well- developed welfare system to support the struggling individuals, leaving many to risk their lives for survival (Ikwe). With most people employed in the private sector, earning a living is difficult, especially at the time of crisis. The local and small businesses suffer the most, with many being forced to close or working with almost no profits. Corruption is another prominent issue of the Nigerian government, meaning that the finances distributed to aid the poor often simply do not reach them (Ikwe).

With such an unreliable system of governance and support, many people have to depend on each other and develop close-knit communities that help to ensure survival (Ikwe). Such support systems between people are a part of Nigerian and African culture, and their presence has been cemented by history. However, exactly this cultural arrangement presents the biggest danger during the Coronavirus pandemic (Ikwe). As the disease spreads between people in close proximity, it is becoming more and more dangerous to stay as a collective. The lockdown measures have saved many from dying of Covid-19, but left the people with virtually no support (Aronu et al.). Nigerian population has to adapt to an unfamiliar way of living, with almost no community or government aid. The changes are also very rapid, leaving many no time to adapt. The current events present a huge danger to the Nigerian way of life, becoming a concern for all people, regardless of age.

Works Cited

Abari, A. O., and N. O. Orunbon. Building Bridges and Walls: Education and COVID-19 in Nigeria. Research Journal in Comparative Education, vol. 1, no. 1, 2020, pp. 39-52, Web.

Adegboye, Oyelola, et al. Novel Coronavirus in Nigeria: Epidemiological Analysis of the First 45 Days of the Pandemic. medRxiv, 2020, Web.

Aronu, C. O., N. U. Otty, J. C. Ehiwario, and P. N. Okafor. The Impact of the Lockdown Measure on the Confirmed Cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, Vol. 26, no. 6. 2020, pp. 110-9, Web.

Ikwe, H. (2020).The Impact of Corona Virus on the Socio-Economic Life of Nigerians. Culture e Studi del Sociale, 5( 1), Special issue, 383-388.

Mwai, Peter, and Christopher Giles. Coronavirus: How Fast Is It Spreading in Africa? BBC. 2020, Web.

Nwakpu, Ekwutosi Sanita, et al. Nigeria Media Framing of Coronavirus Pandemic and Audience Response. Health Promotion Perspectives, vol. 10, no. 3, 2020, pp. 192199., Web.

Introduction

Consumer behavior is dictated by American identity, while at the same time being an identity-shaping force. Petersons article analyzes the change in behavior during the pandemic, demonstrating that the consumption paradigm is shaping American identity. The dictated civic responsibility was a force that provoked overconsumption, since it was believed that high purchasing power was a sign of the stability of the economy (Peterson). The pandemic proves otherwise, shaping a new American identity that dictates the value of each citizens individual contribution. Evans article aims to analyze how American identity influences purchasing behavior. The desire to maintain social status, the valuable cultural attribute of the American, has led to overconsumption (Evans 1). Living beyond ones means and overconsumption have become part of the American identity.

I Dont Feel like Buying Stuff Anymore

Ann Petersons article I Dont Feel like Buying Stuff Anymore was written after several weeks of total lockdown. The author concludes that American consumers began to behave differently during the lockdown. This change is mainly caused by the standard reaction of the population to the socio-economic crisis. On the one hand, people feel the need to regain a sense of control through shopping. On the other hand, consumers are aware of the increased social responsibility, they are trying to support small businesses and minimally endanger store employees. In the new customer behavior paradigm, Americans demonstrate their identity. People are now aware of their own personal contribution to the fight against a global problem and try to minimize the spread of the disease. At the same time, the identity of the Americans as a consumer nation is beginning to shift. The pandemic has exposed growing economic inequality and the inability of purchasing power to create a sense of stability.

Petersons Economic Lens

Peterson seeks to analyze the economic shifts like the global pandemic and their impact on American identity and purchasing behavior through an economic lens. The idea that a responsible citizen should keep the economy stable by consuming and buying goes back to the Great Depression (Peterson). Approximately during this period, a new view of the world is being formed, in which the buyer becomes more important than the worker and producer. A similar mindset is seen in the post-World War II, 9/11, and 2008 economic crisis (Peterson). In the post-war period, increased consumption helped shape superpower status. In newer periods, over-purchasing has allowed Americans to feel as if their lives are under control. The idea that spending money to keep the economy going has become part of the patriotic rhetoric.

The pandemic has exposed a contemporary economic problem: inequality. The idea that shopping is a form of civic responsibility has influenced the way Americans spend money. Promotion of the form of behavior as the responsibility of everyone to get everything they need for themselves so that others can afford it, has led not only to overconsumption, but to consumption beyond the means available. This is another point, concerning economic stability: if Americans can afford everything, then the countrys economy is under control. It turns out to be fundamentally wrong: Americans not only spend more than they have, but normalize such behavior (Peterson 1). Maintaining an illusory well-being has become a feature of identity, despite the fact that this illusion requires more investment with rising inflation. This phenomenon leads to growing inequality and the normalization of life in debt, which is also a national trait.

For many decades the economy was built on the illusion of well-being, supported by an excessive form of consumption. The hallmarks of this economy were the indebtedness of the population, the exploitation of workers, and growing economic inequality (Peterson). The pandemic has proven that the identification of a decent citizen as an over-consumer is fundamentally wrong. Purchasing behavior has begun to move towards more conscious consumption, which should be the basis for a new understanding of the responsible American. This positive trend is likely to continue even after the pandemic is over.

Evans Idea of American Customer Behavior

Through the economic lens provided by Peterson, Evans article on how identity affects what and how much Americans buy can be examined. The researcher relies on the economic crisis of 2008 to substantiate his point of view. During this period, home loans were designed to provoke buying activity (Evans 2). For many people, exorbitant loans were the result of a desire to realize the inherent national identity of the American dream, to recognize themselves as accomplished members of society, and to prove their status.

Buying a big house out of a desire to live up to ones self-identity leads to more expenses that are usually beyond the reach of the average American. Identity forms the idea not only of where an American should live, but on what to move around (Evans 3). In fact, most people do not need a big car, but identity dictates this need, making trucks and pickups the most popular choice (Evans 3). The American economy and living conditions do not leave citizens with an option for non-consumerism: most of the population lives in rural areas, and transportation routes are not well established. The only available strategy is to buy goods in advance, which leads to unconscious overconsumption. However, any crisis proves the failure of the capitalist model, in which the population steadily becomes poorer while trying to maintain external well-being.

Consumption, Formed by Identity and Forming Identity

Having studied the two presented opinions, it can be concluded that consumption both forms identity and is formed under the influence of identity as an external factor in purchasing behavior. In the pre-pandemic period, the desire to conform to social status has led to the fact that a significant part of Americans live beyond their means and spend much more than they earn. Such purchasing behavior was formed under the idea of the need for each person to contribute to the stability of the national economy. The general trend towards maintaining external prosperity has contributed to the growing economic inequality. Identity as belonging to a certain social, economic or cultural class required new means of expression, which was subject to excessive purchasing behavior. The desire for external confirmation of ones own identity resulted in a life beyond ones means against the backdrop of rising inflation and falling incomes of the population.

The pandemic has shown that neither the health care nor the economy is stable enough to quickly recover from the crisis. Experiencing a turning point in history has affected the way Americans perceive themselves. Individualism began to fade into the background under calls for unity to fight a common threat. New problems of the capitalist world have been revealed, in which corporations are trying to hold on to profits, not caring about the well-being of their employees. National identity has dictated new forms of social responsibility: everyone needs a personal contribution to ensure future well-being. Americans have become concerned about the well-being of employees working in quarantine, minimizing living home and the need to save funds to maintain future stability.

The understanding of identity has taken on a more global dimension and forced citizens to take joint efforts to minimize the effects of the pandemic. Maintaining social status faded into the background during the crisis. The reorientation from unconscious consumption to the tendency to buy only what is needed occurred due to this new self-awareness. An example of such tendency is the behavior of Americans in the period of panic about the shortage of essential goods. Gradually, the panic subsided, and people realized the need to buy only what they really needed so that others could also afford the goods. The global shift towards conscious consumption is likely to continue even as the economy recovers from the crisis.

Conclusion

The identity of the modern American consumer has evolved over the past century. The idea that economic stability requires customer support has fueled inequality and overconsumption. The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has proved the failure of this model. Currently, under the influence of this identity, new buying behavior is being formed. Concern for workers, local producers and other citizens formed the basis of the new attitudes. Americans are still striving to maintain stability, but now they do it by moving towards more conscious consumption. The trend that appeared during the time of uncertainty will continue to develop.

Works Cited

Evans, G.S. The Age of the American Consumer is Over. In What Is the Future of the US Economy?, WD Press, 2012.

Peterson, Ann Helen. I Dont Feel like Buying Stuff Anymore. BuzzFeed.News, 2020. Web.

Background

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a rare and unprecedented occurrence, and governments around the world scrambled to implement emergency measures, such as social isolation measures, public awareness programs, testing and quarantine policies, and income support packages. The governments of the world hurried to implement emergency measures, including lockdowns, testing and quarantining, travel restrictions, and economic packages. The primary objective of these activities was, on the one hand, to establish social separation between people to prevent the transmission of the disease, and, on the other side, to reduce the negative economic impact (Ashraf, 2020). In this essay, I assess the projected economic effects of government policies by analyzing their impact on the economy.

Effects of COVID-19 on the Economy

The onset of the extremely contagious COVID-19 pandemic came as a complete surprise, accompanied by unparalleled uncertainty over the diseases lethality and the availability of a vaccine. The governments of the world hurried to implement emergency measures, including lockdowns, testing and quarantining, travel restrictions, and economic packages. The primary objective of these activities was, on the one hand, to establish social separation between people to prevent the transmission of the disease, and, on the other side, to reduce the negative economic impact. However, these activities increased the uncertainties surrounding their effects and consequences. Even though lockdowns could be effective in decreasing new infections, they also caused economic separation, harming the jobs and earnings of tens of millions of individuals (Ashraf, 2020). The mass loss of jobs and earnings led to a decline in the general economy of the country and the world.

Government Interventions

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, governments and emergency responders focused on immediate needs, such as increasing hospital capacity, addressing hunger, and protecting businesses and families from foreclosure and bankruptcy. The majority of funds provided thus far by the World Bank, IMF, other regional development banks, and central banks were allocated for protective equipment in hospitals, the stabilization of financial institutions, the payment of companies that can provide goods and services to essential workers, and direct cash support for households (Ashraf, 2020).

How the Relationship between the USA and Other Global Economies affects US-Based Companies

The United States has maintained strong relationships with other global economies which have helped companies based in the United States. Companies based in the United States and the United States at large benefit when certain activities, such as those involving scarce natural resources or customers, are relocated to other countries. This improves the economic outlook for the United States. Those companies expand their markets to other parts of the world thus increasing their revenues.

Elaboration

I found the learning activities based on the Federal Reserve Policy very important and beneficial. I learned that Federal Reserve uses monetary policy to pursue stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates. Monetary policy boosts or slows economic demand for goods and services (Bernanke, 2017). When general demand slows, unemployment and inflation tend to rise. The policy can help stabilize the economy by increasing demand by lowering interest rates. When demand for products and services is too high, unemployment can decline and inflation can rise. The Fed can lead economic activity back to more sustainable levels and control inflation by raising interest rates.

What I could have improved on the activities I have learned from this course is ensuring that I learn more and I am up to date on the current economic issues. Issues such as the emergency of Covid-19, and the war between Russia and Ukraine have negatively affected the economy across the world. Therefore, I need to be up to date with such current issues.

References

Ashraf B. N. (2020). The economic impact of government interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: International evidence from financial markets. Journal of behavioral and experimental finance, 27, 100371. Web.

Bernanke, B. S. (2017). Federal Reserve policy in an international context. IMF Economic Review, 65(1), 1-32.

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented contraction in the economy of the United States. The impact of the pandemic cuts across all departments within the federal government. Hiccups in supply chain management led to inflation due to the high demand for goods and dependability on imports. The lack of essential goods the country faced due to the lockdown in the trading partners led to a sharp decline in economic growth. The federal government had to set out policies to curb the standards of living that were on the hike. Supply chain management was greatly affected due to the travel restrictions put by the country. The slow recovery rate by other foreign countries led to insurgence in demand that could not be satisfied by imported goods. The pandemic significantly hit tourism due to international and local travel bans. Laying down workers in the recreation sector resulted in a high dependency ratio within the United States, which called for subsidies and a review of monetary and fiscal policies.

Deaths resulting from the pandemic in the United States were many, so policies to support the affected population were necessary. Concerning the economy, the gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 8.9% four months after the pandemic hit the United States, making it the sharpest drop in history (Pooter et al., 2020). The GDP fall was attributed to monetary and fiscal policies set by the country as part of subsidies and ensuring reasonable living standards for the locals. Actions that ensured the efficient flow of money within the economy and prevented high cases of inflation were discounting the goods consumed. Market operations could not be opened since the movement of people was restricted as prevention, a measure of COVID-19. This paper will address the effects of monetary and fiscal policies set by the U.S. government to influence the economy during the pandemic.

Federal Reserves Monetary Policy during the Pandemic

The Federal Reserve Board, an economic institution in the United States, is responsible for regulating financial markets. The board had the heavy task of controlling money flow and providing favorable interest rates on goods during the pandemic. Federal Reserve has reduced economic vulnerability during the pandemic by devising tax relief easing policies. The policies have reduced the unemployment rate and brought positive growth in the gross domestic product. The country faced a sharp 8.9% drop in GDP once the pandemic struck (Pooter et al., 2020). The board was mandated to devise policies that would ensure economic stability. However, monetary policies have led to a long-term negative effect concerning economic growth, as discussed in the subsequent topics. This section discusses the long-term impacts of the revision of target rates, expansion policies, and regulation of market function in the U.S. economy.

Analysis of the Monetary Policy Adopted by the U.S. Federal Reserve

In the United States, Target Funds are loans banks offer businesses to aid their operations. Before the pandemic, the federal funds rate stood between 3% and 3.25%, per the Federal Open Markets Committee (Hameed, 2022). According to Surz (2018), the interest rates were lowered to 1.25% after the countrys pandemic hit. The fund rates guide overnight lending in banks in the United States. Reducing the interest rates on loans encouraged more lending and loan repayment among the defaulters. Since the economy had come to a standstill due to the reduced flow of money, the reduction helped the economy at the expense of the banks (Mankiw, 2020). Banks in low social class regions offered zero-interest rate loans, ensuring business activities went on as usual. To support the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve set a rule to ease the interest of public health was jeopardized due to financial reasons.

Federal service in the United States adopted an expansionary policy stance to respond to the global pandemic. This type of monetary policy ensured that the interest rates on goods were significantly reduced. Qualitative easing (Q.E.), which involved the purchase of securities by the United States federal service from the open market, was adopted. The main aim of quantitative easing was to improve the flow of funds within the economy and reduce interest rates imposed on goods and services in the country (Bova, 2021). U.S. federal adopted the nominal principles in economics, which states that money is purchasing power is what matters, not its face. The people face tradeoffs principle is used in selling and purchasing securities (Bova, 2021). Jerome H. Powell, the chair of Federal Reserve governors, announced that the expansion policy would prevent the countrys financial system from collapsing (Hameed, 2022). The pandemic was distinguished by economic inequalities, which led to unequal distribution of opportunities and income among the members of the society.

The Federal Reserve devised monetary policy easing to prevent inequalities among different social classes. Policy easing aims to reduce falling inflation within the country, leading to unnecessary pressure on the government to improvise rescue plans. The Federal Reserve Board adopted an accommodative monetary policy (Hameed, 2022). The main aim of this policy was to increase the supply of money in the economy during the pandemic when people could not quickly get it. Many people in the United States require consumption loans, which is why the Federal Reserve started the monetary policy.

Treasury bonds, bills, and notes are the primary securities that fund the operations of a government. The primary dealers of these securities will be free to withdraw their shares from the government if an economic crisis occurs (ekanavi
ius, 2018). Funding the primary dealers in Treasury bonds and bills earned the United States its economic power even if it had to spend. The Federal Reserve adopted a market-driven economy to achieve economic growth during the pandemic. Unemployment insurance was given considering consumer behavior. Additionally, subsidies to businesses depended on the products they traded. The Federal Reserve uses the relationship between inflation and unemployment in response to the pandemic.

The pandemic resulted in an economic crisis that pressured the primary dealers to withdraw their bonds from the government, leading to an economic crackdown (Holford, 2020). To sustain the countrys economy, the federal service extended the funding of the securities through repo operations. The federal marketing committee directed the repo operations on March 15, 2020. It repurchased them at higher prices ensuring the dealers did not go on a loss (Holford, 2020). The collateral agreement boosted the U.S. economy, ensuring money flow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fiscal Policies Adopted during the pandemic

Fiscal policy is the regulation of the economy through government spending and taxation. These are regulatory actions that bring a fluctuating economic situation into control. The pandemic resulted in a low economic growth rate in the United States, and the federal government had to adopt a fiscal policy to prevent collapse and inflation (ekanavi
ius, 2018). This tool slowed down economic growth. Being a period of low economic growth rate, the Federal Reserve reduces the taxation rates imposed by the bank to increase borrowing activities and increase the money flow in the population (Mankiw, 2020). According to Mankiw (2020), the federal government has the ability to impact the performance and outcome of the market. The improvement is achievable through various channels, the country injected funds into the public through increased government spending. The U.S. Federal Reserve adopted the fiscal policies discussed below in the wake of the pandemic.

Analysis of Fiscal Policies Enacted by the Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve adopted the expansionary fiscal policy to reduce the tax imposed on U.S. citizens and alleviate the economic turmoil caused by the accommodation, consumption, and travel pandemic. The policy was announced on March 23, 2020; it would increase spending and raise the nominal GDP, which had fallen by 8.9 % in the first quarter of the pandemic invasion (Holford, 2020). Cutting the three primary contact sectors led to a contraction in the economy. Increased unemployment resulted in a sharp decline in expenditure, and the country was headed to a recession (ekanavi
ius, 2018). FOMC governor introduced subsidies in the consumption sector and funded the workers laid off through a government relief program to ensure they would be comfortable. To sustain their households, relief foods were also offered during the lockdown through the expansionary fiscal policy that ensured people from low social classes would endure the economic turmoil brought by the pandemic.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, local and foreign investors would buy U.S. treasury bonds due to their stability and power. In order to increase the money flow to the public, the Federal Reserve issued bonds to investors at relatively lower prices than average. Reduced taxation resulted in high government spending since the reserve repurchased the bond at higher prices (ekanavi
ius, 2018). Owners of financial securities, therefore, benefitted through the funding and financed the economy resulting in steady economic growth and recovery from the shock of the pandemic.

Reducing taxation on products results in high demand and hence high expenditure. During the pandemic, the federal government reduced the tax on consumable goods. Consumer behavior changed since the demand for household commodities increased even with less income. According to ekanavi
ius (2018), the tax collected during the first quarter of the epidemic was used to purchase emergency food subsidies to be distributed to people in lower social classes. The subsidies made the GDP remain unaffected even during the pandemic. An increase in disposable income led to a higher GDP due to increased spending within the country. Therefore, inflation fiscal policy to lower taxes was an appropriate emergency response in the United States since it directly impacts employment and production. High demand for the subsidized products resulted in overworking in the production companies leading to subsequent demand in the working personnel.

How Monetary and Fiscal Policy Negatively Affected GDP in the Long Run

Policies adopted by the Federal Reserve had a long-term negative impact on the U.S. economy. The economic principles promoted faster money flow to the economy, but their impacts led to slow economic growth in the subsequent years. Consumer spending has reduced considerably since the pandemic ended due to the stabilization of the economy. In the United States, consumer behavior has returned to normalcy while fiscal and monetary policies are still in action (Bova, 2021). The reduced spending has resulted in diminishing expenditure and hence reduced economic growth.

The level of GDP depends on the spending in the state and local governments. Pandemic response policies led to increased subsidies for businesses and private organizations Federal Reserve and economic growth due to the steady flow of money in the market. Regarding securities, policies that led to the funding of treasury bonds led to improved government spending.in the long run, the total money the federal and local states spent was fragile to impact the GDP (ekanavi
ius, 2018). If the policies had not taken effect when the pandemic began, the level of GDP would be higher than the current.

Unemployment insurance, rebate checks, and increased government spending were temporary economic recovery strategies. Since the pandemic ended, these policies have ended, and their impetus has lessened. The chances of the United States reaching government spending are narrow due to stimulus policies. The level of GDP is projected to experience slower growth in 2023 due to fiscal policies put in place by the Federal Reserve. An overheated economy has followed the pandemic; hence, high interests are imposed on local and foreign investors. The taxes received from businesses have been reduced, affecting the flow of money in the economy and the GDP.

Why Unemployment Rate Dropped Despite Low Rates of Increases in GDP

Both monetary and fiscal policies have acted as a cushion to the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic by safeguarding the economy from collapse and preventing the adverse effects of inflation. The policies have acted as stabilizers that keep the economy afloat amid fluctuations in demand and supply. Also, the policies set by the Federal Reserve about spending and taxes have improved the economy since the pandemic began. Generally, based on the principles of macroeconomics society faces a short-run trade-off between inflation and unemployment, (Mankiw, 2020). This aspect implies that despite the impact of inflation in the country, job creation increased due to the demand for goods and services. However, monetary and fiscal policies act as a stimulus that produces positive short-term effects on economic growth. The long-term impacts of emergency policies are adverse and are currently being felt by nations after the pandemic (Pooter et al., 2020). The United States Federal Reserve enacted policies to govern taxation, unemployment, demand, supply, and spending. The output when monetary and fiscal policies are employed is lower than when they are not employed. The monetary and fiscal policies aimed to maintain the currencys value even with the inflation brought on by the pandemic. Promoting a steady flow of money in the economy reduced unemployment in the country. The Federal Reserve, therefore, introduced the repurchase rule to inject more funds into the economy and curb the high demand brought by the pandemic.

To prevent the high rate of unemployment that would occur as a result of the pandemic, the United States adopted unemployment insurance. The immediate impact of the insurance was an improvement in the countrys GDP since the flow of money in the economy improved impulsively. Three rebate checks and economic impact funds given to the vulnerable under fiscal policies led to economic growth in the first quarter of the pandemic.

Conclusion

The sharp fall in the Gross domestic product (GDP) due to the pandemic led to the introduction of monetary and fiscal policies to curb the economic turmoil. Expansionary fiscal policies, reduced taxation, and increased spending made the framework of the fiscal policies, while quantitative easing and target fund rates made the monetary policy. The monetary and fiscal policies have led to economic growth in the short run but have adverse effects in the long run. The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to run till 2023.

References

Bova, D. (2021). About the morality of economic policies principles. Academia Letters. Web.

ekanavi
ius, L. (2018). On the choice of fiscal adjustment to financial crises: Expansionary vs. contractionary policies. Ekonomika, 97(2), 7-17. Web.

Hameed, D. (2022). Quantitative easing and monetary policy legitimate perspective. Webology, 19(1), 3070-3088. Web.

Holford, A. (2020). Youth employment, academic performance, and labor market outcomes: Production functions and policy effects. Labour Economics, 63, 101806. Web.

Mankiw, N. G. (2020). Principles of macroeconomics. Cengage Learning. Web.

Pooter, M., Favara, G., Modugno, M., & Wu, J. (2020). Monetary policy uncertainty and monetary policy surprises. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2020(032). Web.

Surz, R. (2018). Target date fund benchmarks. SSRN Electronic Journal. Web.

Introduction

The onset of Covid-19 in December 2019 was unprecedented since its spread and impact were not imminent at the time. By March 2021, the world had to shut down; movement restrictions were introduced. Social distance, both partial and total lockdowns mandates were also implemented changing human behavior patterns (Mehta, et al., 2020). Today, the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically changed human behaviors such as mobility, consumption, entertainment, and the need for healthcare among others. Even after some governments such as the USA, UK, Canada, China, and South Africa have relaxed the strict measure that had been put in place to combat the pandemic, life has not yet gone back to normal. The impact of Covid-19 has greatly affected consumer behavior in a way that no one predicted.

It can be noted that consumer behavior changes in times of contagion, immobility, and economic uncertainty, which then introduces new purchasing patterns in all spheres of life. These drastic shifts have implications for produces, manufacturers, retailers, and delivery companies because they are sustained by the dynamics of the consumers (Stanciu, et al., 2020). In this research paper, the goal is to survey the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumer behavior. The questions asked were based on the respondents recent shopping habits to find out the extent to which the pandemic affects ones purchasing habits. Data was collected, analyzed and the findings were presented in this paper.

Overall results

A total of 24 respondents took part in the survey. They were randomly selected to give credibility to the information collected. The survey had 10 questions, which were answered by everyone. It was noted that most of the respondents were still afraid of going out of the house to go and shop because they are afraid of dying. The death rate from the Coronavirus cases has increased over the period the virus has been spreading.

The results of the survey revealed that most of the respondents were young people between the age of 18 to 25 years, which meant that most of those that seek services online are young and understand more about buying online. In my opinion, the results of the study did not reveal what I had expected. The young people have a character of persisting and can resist change easily. I had expected to find out that the respondents shopping habits would have been changed when the coronavirus is managed. This was not the case as 50% of the responses stated that there would be no change in their consumer behavior, while another 25% also stated that it would either change their habits or not, which means that more than 50% believed that there will be no change in their buying habits.

I was also surprised that most of the respondents were willing to go and have a meal from eateries rather than get food at home. This was not expected as I believed most of the respondents would avoid such areas as they gather many people, and this could be a potential place for spreading the virus. Consumer habits had to change because there was a shift from physical purchasing to online buying of almost everything that an individual can need from clothes, food, electronics, and stationaries among others.

Specific Analysis

For the demographics of the respondents that took part in the study, the results indicated that more than 62% of the respondents were between 18 and 25 years of age; 11% were between 36 and 55 and a similar number was 55 to 65 years of age. About 11% of the respondents preferred not to state their age.

The respondents were asked whether they would be stocking during the second pandemic and 25% of the respondents would not be restocking during the pandemic. Of those that said that they would restock, the majority indicated that they would be restocking toiletry, food, disinfectant, pet care supplies, and video streaming services (Netflix, Hulu). This shows that people are tired of the stringent measures that were put to prevent the various from spreading. In addition, for those that were going to restock, their priority had changed as most of them would go for live streaming video services as opposed to the usual cable television (Seetharaman, 2020). This also indicates a change in consumer behavior as the choice of entertainment has shifted to online service providers.

Disinfectant has become part of any households shopping list and the majority of the respondents, about 75% were in agreement that they spend more on disinfectant than before the pandemic. 25% indicated that their expenditure on disinfectants has not changed. The disinfectant was not a priority in peoples shopping lists before but because of Covid-19, people have to buy it, which also shows that consumers care more about their safety and that has driven them to buy products that were not a priority before the pandemic.

The respondents were asked if they believe the shopping habits will drastically change when the pandemic comes to an end and the results suggested that they would be a slight change in peoples purchasing habits. The results indicate that 50% believe that there will be no change in the shopping habits whereas 25% believed that there be a change in shopping habits and 25% also noted that there will be a change or no change in consumers buying patterns.

It was interesting to note the results from the question on whether online advertisements impact peoples shopping behavior as 75% of the respondent did not believe that online adverts affected their shopping culture. On the other hand, 25% of the respondents believed that these adverts influenced their shopping culture. This is an aspect that I expected to be positive and push towards consumer behavior because of online advertising; online advertising use peoples online search patterns to position their adverts and convince someone to buy their products (Sheth, 2020). It is because of this aspect that I believed that a greater number should have stated that online advertising influenced their purchasing behavior.

The results also indicated that peoples perceptions towards going out for food and other supplies had changed though most of the respondents still believed in going out of the house to do their shopping. This is because 50% of the respondents support (38% somewhat support and 12% strongly support the idea); only 12 opposed the idea. In addition, as a follow-up to the previous question, the respondents were further asked if they would find it safe to do their shopping in a mall. The results indicated a split result where 50% believe it would be safe and an equal number believed it would not be safe to go to a shopping mall during the pandemic. These two questions captured different opinions on somehow questions with related implications, going out of the house. In addition, those that could go shopping during the pandemic were asked about how they would prefer to carry out their shopping. More than 76% would go shopping depending on what they want to buy while 12% would prefer shopping online and an equal number preferred shopping from both the stores and online.

Most peoples perception of buying clothes and on the question of whether the gyms should be re-opened. The responses indicate that 62% of the respondents believe that they should not open while 38% believe they should open so that they can go buy outfits. This is because trying on clothes may not be safe because it has been touched by other people. Though I find this interesting because at restaurants people eat and drink from utensils, cups, and plates that are constantly being touched by other different people and they are not sure of the hygiene. Though maybe this is just my point of view due to my previous experience with being aware of how clean these outlets are and this kept most of the respondents worried.

Finally, the option of going to dine out during the pandemic has not been significantly affected as 75% of the respondents indicate that they would be willing to go out for eating during the pandemic. Contrary, 24% believed that they would go out only if they believe that it is safe. This has affected the hotel and food industry during this pandemic period as most of the hotels were closed and those that were operating on a take-away basis had few clients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, from the data collected and analyzed it can be concluded that the pandemic has affected consumers purchasing behaviors. Peoples priorities shifted as the day-to-day activities also drastically changed. Though the results indicated that to a smaller extent the pandemic had changed individuals buying patterns. This is contrary to the many studies that have been conducted on this subject. According to Mehta et al., (2020), explain that during the pandemic people have been spending less money on items such as clothes, jewelry, shoes, electronic gadgets, and games. They further note that across the world, Covid-19 has disrupted the normal business operations as most of the malls, hotels, jewelry shops, beaches, and air travel was affected. This then means that consumers priorities had to change thereby affecting their buying behavior.

The results though indicated that since the pandemic started, shopping behaviors have dramatically changed for everyone. It is therefore important to note that the effect of the pandemic on peoples spending choices will remain the same for some time. This is because life choices have changed, some people have decided to have their offices at their homes, which will affect their buying patterns. In addition, many people have also been rendered jobless and therefore do not have the money to spend, which also affects their consumer behavior (Donthu & Gustafsson, 2020). This research study has been very informative and educative as I have learned more about consumer behavior and the implication of restriction on human beings. Though I believe that our stores will be packed and busy again after the pandemic; consumers are ready to live their old lives again.

References

Donthu, N., & Gustafsson, A. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on business and research. Journal of business research, 117, 284. Web.

Mehta, S., Saxena, T., & Purohit, N. (2020). The New Consumer Behaviour Paradigm amid COVID-19: Permanent or Transient?. Journal of Health Management, 22(2), 291-301. 

Seetharaman, P. (2020). Business models shifts: Impact of Covid-19. International Journal of Information Management, 54, 102173. 

Sheth, J. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on Consumer Behavior: Will the Old Habits Return or Die?. Journal of Business Research. 117, 280-283. 

Stanciu, S., Radu, R. I., Sapira, V., Bratoveanu, B. D., & Florea, A. M. (2020). Consumer Behavior in Crisis Situations. Research on the Effects of COVID-19 in Romania. Annals of the University Dunarea de Jos of Galati: Fascicle: I, Economics & Applied Informatics, 26(1).

Among the numerous global crises, the coronavirus pandemic, which started in early 2020, has definitely occupied a specific place for its unique and terrifying impact. Having claimed the lives of more than one million and three hundred thousand people, it has strained the national health systems to their limit (WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, 2020). This resulted in an urgent need for immediate virus containment actions, which have dramatically changed the global economy. According to the data provided by the International Monetary Fund (2020, p. xiii), over 90 million people are expected to fall into extreme deprivation this year, and the global GDP contraction will exceed four percent. These effects will have long-term consequences, which will probably lead to the creation of a new international economic structure. Moreover, despite the overall negative influence, some industries and areas of activities can benefit from the occurring changes. Therefore, a review of the most probable long-term trends in production and consumption is necessary for finding optimum solutions in this increasingly volatile period.

First, it is reasonable to consider some high-level structural changes, which will probably occur in the world economy. The primary paradigm before the current crisis was the increasing level of globalization and interdependence between nations. However, the numerous lockdowns and almost complete closures of traditional transportation paths resulted in severe disruptions of multiple supply chains. This demonstrated the high risk of such interrelated structures and became a motivating force for nativist nationalists and protectionists, arguing against the free movement of people and goods (Karabag, 2020, p. 2). Therefore, the recovery strategies for many companies will include a revaluation of their supply chains and probably searching for vendors closer to their production facilities. This trend will revitalize local manufactures, which will turn into valuable sources of vital goods.

Moreover, the crisis response also became a critical test for various regional supranational institutions. The most obvious example is the one of the European Union, which showed the fragility of such integration. The unwillingness of leading countries to provide critical medical supplies to their weaker partners and rapidly introduced travel restrictions demonstrated the prevalence of national interests (Karabag, 2020). Although these actions are unlikely to destroy the entire union, the initial response showed the significance of local production and vital resources stockpiling. This will undoubtedly encourage national governments to apply various economic measures to support their own manufacturers and limit the dependence on international supply chains.

The next trend which will outlast the pandemic itself is the digitalization of the modern economy. Although this is a traditional way to overcome crisis time, the current case is significantly different from the previous ones. The widespread lockdowns and measures intended to stop virus transmission have resulted in unprecedented closures of businesses. This critically affected the service industry, especially catering, non-essential retail, and entertainment. As a counter-measure, many companies commenced their innovations in the area of contactless or remote delivery through robots, drive-through, or community-driven deliveries (Heinonen and Strandvik, 2020). Even restaurants and hotels, which traditionally provided only dine-in services, started developing their delivery models. Moreover, such digitalization has proven to increase the efficiency of small and medium enterprises, especially in terms of enhanced cash flow and improved predicted performance (Guo et al., 2020). Finally, this trend has already influenced the behavior of regular customers, who have become more inclined to conduct online shopping and order delivery services. Therefore, the economy digitalization, which started during the pandemic, will constitute one of its long-term consequences.

The trend mentioned above will also have implications for the value of corporate assets and attitude towards their utilization. According to recent statistics, the capitalization of physical premises occupied by American retailers has dropped by more than thirty-five percent (Diebner et al., 2020). This indicates a high probability of permanent closures of underperforming stores, which will be replaced by digital channels combined with local pickup facilities. Moreover, this attitude has already manifested itself in the spread of corporate bond prices, where the availability of tangible assets has turned into an unfavorable factor (Halling, Yu and Zechner, 2020, p. 516). This can primarily be attributed to the reduced flexibility of such companies, which are required to cover permanent expenses generated by their property. Considering that many health care experts view this pandemic as an event which can reoccur in the future due to extensive international connections, many corporations feel obliged to reassess their asset policies. Therefore, the closures of individual facilities and their replacement with online channels will be one of the trends prevailing in the post-COVID economy.

Although the development of digital channels has supported businesses from many different industries, there are some for which mobility restrictions are an insurmountable obstacle. First, it is necessary to mention tourism, which has experienced a dramatic fall of around 80% in its international segment (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2020). The continuing lockdowns and future uncertainty have placed this industry among the most damaged ones, with the recovery to pre-COVID levels expected to take at least several years. In this area, government support measures are critical for saving millions of jobs and preventing widespread bankruptcies. One of the primary changes will be a shift towards domestic tourism, which many countries already support despite closed international borders. An exemplar program is carried out by the Russian government, which offers up to two-hundred U.S. dollar cashback for domestic tours (Maglavko, 2020). It is also expected that tourists will start paying more attention to sustainability issues and prefer environmentally-friendly resorts. Finally, rebuilding traveler confidence will be a critical task for the industry. Thus, tourism will be among the sectors suffering the most devastating long-term effects.

Another industry, which is also entirely dependent on peoples mobility and stays in the spotlight of many government support programs, is aviation. According to the latest forecasts, the passenger traffic revenue for 2020 will be twice below the values observed during the previous years, and the recovery terms are unknown (Suau-Sanchez, Voltes-Dorta and Cugueró-Escofet, 2020, p. 1). The significant amounts of state support provided in the majority of developed countries have temporarily saved most companies from bankruptcy, but their economic situation is still very complicated. One of the critical concerns for the industry is the reduction of future business travel due to the acquired telecommunication skills. Adding to the increased consideration of health hazards and reduced leisure travel caused by overall economic complications, this will lead to further market overcapacity and traffic reduction. Many experts believe that such a development may be beneficial for low-cost carriers capable of extending their operations at primary airports due to their decreased congestion (Suau-Sanchez, Voltes-Dorta and Cugueró-Escofet, 2020, p. 4). Therefore, the crisis will further aggravate the situation of traditional airlines, changing the world of air travel entirely.

Finally, apart from the various industry-level transformations, it is reasonable to review the modifications in consumer behavior caused by the pandemic. Although most data are still being analyzed, there are some valuable evaluations on spending and savings, which indicate certain long-term trends. Research conducted in Great Britain showed that after a significant drop in spring, consumer spending partially recovered but only reached a level of 90% (Davenport et al., 2020, p. 2). Moreover, a similar degree of recovery was noted in various areas regardless of their local case counts. At the same time, a significant accumulation of savings was observed among the higher-income households. It can be partially attributed to the unavailability of desired goods due to lockdowns. However, the lack of full recovery indicates more profound transitions in citizens mentality and their willingness to save resources due to the unpredictable future. This trend shows a significant shift in many peoples attitudes, which the businesses need to account for in their future development plans.

The review provided above demonstrates the comprehensive and long-lasting economic effects of the coronavirus. Constituting a unique occurrence in recent history, this pandemic has severed existing connections showing the vulnerability of international dependence. This has turned into a strong argument against the current globalization and has encouraged many governments to support their local producers. Although such a trend is reasonable, one of its long-term consequences will be an increased inequality level due to the exclusion of poorer countries from the manufacturing chains. Besides, the pandemic has intensified the digitalization of the economy and emphasized the value of modern information technologies. It has also brought entire industries, such as tourism and aviation, to the brink of their collapse, requiring states to allocate substantial financial resources. Finally, coronavirus has changed consumer priorities, reducing spending, and making people more inclined to save money. It is early to make final conclusions on the long-term effects since the crisis is still unfolding. However, it is already evident that unlike any previous downfalls, this pandemic will entirely transform the world economy and require all businesses to adjust their activities.

Reference List

Davenport, A. et al. (2020) Spending and saving during the COVID-19 crisis: evidence from bank account data. Web.

Diebner, R. et al. (2020) Adapting customer experience in the time of coronavirus. 

Guo, H. et al. (2020) The digitalization and public crisis responses of small and medium enterprises: Implications from a COVID-19 survey. Frontiers of Business Research in China, 14, 19.

Halling, M., Yu, J. and Zechner, J. (2020) How did COVID-19 affect firms access to public capital markets? The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, 9, pp. 501533.

Heinonen, K. and Strandvik, T. (2020) Reframing service innovation: COVID-19 as a catalyst for imposed service innovation, Journal of Service Management.

International Monetary Fund (2020) World Economic Outlook, October 2020: A Long and Difficult Ascent.

Karabag, S. F. (2020) An unprecedented global crisis! The global, regional, national, political, economic and commercial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Journal of Applied Economics and Business Research, 15(21).

Maglavko, S. (2020) Russia to subsidize tourists on domestic vacations  PM, The Moscow Times.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2020) Rebuilding tourism for the future: COVID-19 policy responses and recovery. 

Suau-Sanchez, P., Voltes-Dorta, A. and Cugueró-Escofet, N. (2020) An early assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on air transport: Just another crisis or the end of aviation as we know it? Journal of Transport Geography, 86, pp. 18.

WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard (2020). Web.

In the first quarter of the year, the U.S. economy experienced its worst contraction in a decade as restrictions were imposed in the country to slow the spread of coronavirus infection. The U.S. tried to cushion the economic blow with nearly $ 3 trillion (2.4 trillion) in new spending, including direct payments to many families (Horsley). The Federal Reserve has also taken a number of emergency measures, including cutting interest rates to near zero. However, these moves did not stop unemployment from rising to levels not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. To date, about 40 million Americans have lost their jobs; the Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate reached 20% in June 2020, up from 14.7% in May (Goulde). The U.S. has seen a historic decline in business activity and consumer confidence.

Millions of workers have been embroiled in government-backed job retention programs as parts of the economy, such as tourism and hospitality, have fallen into economic disruption due to business interruptions. Unlike the Great Depression, when Americans lost their jobs permanently and irrevocably, most of the new cases now are people on unpaid leave. They account for almost 80% of the increase in unemployment (Cajner). For some professions, demand has increased during the pandemic. First of all, it is true for short-term vacancies in pharmacies, hospitals, delivery, the Internet, and grocery stores. According to various estimates, the pandemic will create about 3 million of these jobs. According to LinkedIn, the top ten professions in demand in the United States today include nurses, salespeople and cashiers, sorters, and couriers (Anders). For example, Amazon, the largest online retailer in the United States, hired over 100,000 people in less than a month to meet the increased demand for shipping. In an environment where disinfection is required everywhere to fight the coronavirus, the number of vacancies for cleaners has increased by 75%. An acute shortage of workers is experienced in agriculture, where the share of labor migrants is high.

The pandemics adverse economic impact is being felt by hundreds of millions of workers worldwide, including migrant workers. The critical problem faced by labor migrants everywhere is the limitation of mobility and the closure of state borders. Since January 2020, millions of people around the world have found themselves in a difficult situation when making international travel, as more than 170 countries have introduced various restrictions on migration mobility. As stated in the UN-initiated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, the current pandemic has very quickly turned into a mobility crisis (United Nations). For labor migrants, this means the emergence of several serious problems. The main one is the loss of a job with the inability to return home. In this situation, labor migrants find themselves hostages with no means of subsistence and no opportunity to return to their homeland. It is evident that labor migrants will first be unemployed and, unlike citizens of countries where migrants work, they will not be able to claim social benefits, which can leave many of them without a livelihood and, therefore, without the opportunity to return to their homeland. It is necessary to support labor migrants by providing them with benefits for renewal of documents, increased mobility, and increased wages.

The landscape of work in the post-COVID-19 era will drastically transform. First of all, fundamental changes are coming in those areas that are subject to automation: drivers, couriers, shop assistants, and accountants. The printing industry is going through a crisis, losing out to the growing online market (electronic media and similar services), and the demand for specialists employed in this area will decrease. The automation will also affect librarians and mail carriers. Travel agents are under threat of extinction due to the rapid technological development, the advice of which is being replaced by the recommendation algorithms of online services for travelers. The social aspect has been added to the technological aspect, which negatively affects the demand for specialists in the industry: the tourism sector is one of those that have been hit hardest by the coronavirus. The profession of cashier may also disappear  retailers are relying on self-checkout counters, which reduce queues in stores, and are testing micro markets (vending machines) in the entrances of houses.

However, in the short term, the unemployment rate may rise. Some companies can move part of their staff to full-time telecommuting and four-day workweeks to cut costs. It will take time for specialists who enter the labor market to find a new offer. To a high degree, unemployment is caused by a mismatch between supply and demand (Kahn et al.). Thus, only those employers who will suffer from this inconsistency (their demand is higher than the supply of workers available) will offer measures allowing telecommuting for their workers. The rest will rely on the free market and competition among potential workers. To find a balance, the government should introduce some laws allowing less protected groups to save their workplaces. Although there have been some measures like The CARES Act intended to solve the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic through direct financial payments to Americans, legal acts are also needed to allow workers to remain in the labor market. Without these measures, it will be difficult for the countrys economy to adapt to the already rapidly changing labor market.

References

Anders, G. As the U.S. battles a pandemic, these 12 jobs and two key skills are surging. LinkedIn, 2020.

Cajner, T. et al. Tracking labor market developments during the covid-19 pandemic: A preliminary assessment. Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2020-030. Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 2020.

Gould, E. Jobs and unemployment. Economic Policy Institute, 2020.

Horsley, S. 3 Months Of Hell: U.S. Economy Drops 32.9% In Worst GDP Report Ever. NPR, 2020.

United Nations. COVID-19 crisis exposes need to govern migration in a more humane and effective way. UN.org, 2020. Web.