Since the start of the COVID-19 health crisis, gross domestic product (GDP) has continued to fall in the U.S. In fact, the GDP collapsed at a 32.9% annualized rate last quarter, which is the deepest decline since 1947. But as some states throughout the U.S. begin to relax their stay-at-home orders and start to reopen businesses, economists are taking note of how this will affect the nation’s recovery as a whole.
When it comes to tracking the nation’s economic recovery, economists and policymakers need to account for all of the factors that will influence the outcome. This includes tracking the performance of individual states and understanding each state’s trajectory and recovery prospects.
There are many factors that will impact each state’s trajectory for recovery. One example, in particular, can be seen in a state’s preparedness level and rainy day fund that’s set aside for emergencies.
At the onset of the pandemic, many states were unprepared for the financial crisis. The Government Finance Officers Association recommends that states set aside at least two months of operating expenses in their rainy day funds – or roughly 16% of their general fund. However, although some states had set aside some budget to prepare for a recession, it was simply not enough. Only a few states were able to fulfill this requirement.
Other factors that will impact each state’s recovery include: the efficiency of its unemployment program, state lockdown measures, and the concentration of jobs in vulnerable industries.
Our new white paper, featuring key insights from Joseph Mayans, Principal Economist with Advantage Economics, provides a deep dive on:
- The economic landscape at the onset of the pandemic
- Statewide discrepancies for unemployment programs, lockdown measures, and labor markets
- Underlying factors that determine a state’s recovery prospects
- Why tracking state-level economies is critical for national recovery
Listen in as he describes the importance of having a different perspective when tracking the national economy and download the white paper for greater insights.
