On election night, Democratic campaign consultants may have been wondering, “Where did all these voters come from?” But unless the next Congress sets a legislative course over the next few months, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi may soon be wondering, “Where did all the voters go?”
The incoming Biden administration will need to navigate an extremely rough economic path ahead. Congress has struggled to reach an agreement for another round of stimulus to provide emergency relief for families and businesses. Now they must act before the “dark winter” ahead further deteriorates the economic recovery.
Joakim Wincent is a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at Luleå University of Technology and Hanken School of Economics.
Mike Ehrle is senior vice president of strategic partnerships for benefits delivery innovator at Hodges-Mace. He is responsible for deepening corporate ties with national brokers, technology consultants, HCM/payroll companies, medical and group carriers, private-equity firms and other key players in the Hodges-Mace ecosystem. Employee benefits firm Hodges-Mace aims to help employees and employers make smarter benefits decisions through a blend of innovative technologies and intelligent service solutions.
Mike was SVP of Sales for two years at Hodges-Mace before being named SVP of strategic partnerships. During this time Mike expanded the sales team from 14 to 35 people, introduced multiple new functions and processes, sold over 200 new accounts and generated approximately $40M of new revenue.
Prior to Hodges-Mace, Mike was responsible for numerous new business development, client retention, sales operations, and strategic initiatives across payer and large employer clients for Davis Vision/Highmark Health and nearly ten years at UnitedHealth Group. In addition, Mike has helped a major consulting house redesign their middle-market healthcare exchange from a product, financial and technological viewpoint. Mike has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Drake University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
Jeaneth Johansson is a professor of accounting and control at Halmstad University and Luleå University of Technology.
Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of goods and services produced across the economy, decreased at an annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020, followed by a surged of 33.1 percent in the third quarter, in part due to earlier rounds of fiscal stimulus when businesses were offered Economic Injury Disaster Loans and forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans, and individuals received direct payments and extended unemployment benefits.
Economic experts believe the current surge is not enough to stop continued losses incurred by various segments of economy.
“While the strong bounce back in activity from the initial devastation of COVID-19 was heartening, the recovery thus far has been highly uneven, and the path ahead is highly uncertain,” said Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard in a speech last month at the Society of Professional Economists annual online conference.
This highly uneven and uncertain bounce indicates the prospect of a K-shaped recovery, where some sectors continue to recover, while others see a steady decline.
The new stimulus package must focus on the sectors facing difficulties ahead to avoid colossal damage and massive layoffs.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, approximately 4 million small businesses — 13 percent of America’s 31 million smallest employers — have now exhausted their PPP loans, and many face permanent closure without further assistance.
According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry will lose $240 billion. U.S airlines may be forced to furlough 75,000 pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and other workers by the end of 2020 if Congress doesn’t act.
States and municipalities are now on verge of extreme shortfalls due to declines in tax revenues and rises in additional costs. Local governments that fund and operate public school systems will need more funding. “The average school district will face $1.8 million, or $485 per student, in additional costs for disinfectants, personal protective equipment and other preparations to bring students into classrooms this year,” according to the Association of School Business Officials.
The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that cash-strained households will continue to suffer as a result of continued unemployment and reduced working hours. The CARES Act did support these households either through direct payments or enhanced unemployment benefits this year, but the financial security of these households will depend on whether unemployment benefits will be extended or supplemented next year.
Therefore, it is imperative for Congress to ensure that the recovery reaches those who have been disproportionately affected. A targeted fiscal support can turn a K-shaped recovery into a broad-based, inclusive recovery to eliminate shortfalls in employment and provide a better outcome overall.
