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Pandemic precarity: COVID-19 is exposing and exacerbating inequalities in the American heartland

Author

Listed:
  • Brea L. Perry

    (Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Brian Aronson

    (Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Bernice A. Pescosolido

    (Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

Abstract

Crises lay bare the social fault lines of society. In the United States, race, gender, age, and education have affected vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. Yet, consequences likely extend far beyond morbidity and mortality. Temporarily closing the economy sent shock waves through communities, raising the possibility that social inequities, preexisting and current, have weakened economic resiliency and reinforced disadvantage, especially among groups most devastated by the Great Recession. We address pandemic precarity, or risk for material and financial insecurity, in Indiana, where manufacturing loss is high, metro areas ranked among the hardest hit by the Great Recession nationally, and health indicators stand in the bottom quintile. Using longitudinal data ( n = 994) from the Person to Person Health Interview Study, fielded in 2019–2020 and again during Indiana’s initial stay-at-home order, we provide a representative, probability-based assessment of adverse economic outcomes of the pandemic. Survey-weighted multivariate regressions, controlling for preexisting inequality, find Black adults over 3 times as likely as Whites to report food insecurity, being laid off, or being unemployed. Residents without a college degree are twice as likely to report food insecurity (compared to some college), while those not completing high school (compared to bachelor’s degree) are 4 times as likely to do so. Younger adults and women were also more likely to report economic hardships. Together, the results support contentions of a Matthew Effect, where pandemic precarity disproportionately affects historically disadvantaged groups, widening inequality. Strategically deployed relief efforts and longer-term policy reforms are needed to challenge the perennial and unequal impact of disasters.

Suggested Citation

  • Brea L. Perry & Brian Aronson & Bernice A. Pescosolido, 2021. "Pandemic precarity: COVID-19 is exposing and exacerbating inequalities in the American heartland," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(8), pages 2020685118-, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:118:y:2021:p:e2020685118
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    Cited by:

    1. Ballo, Jannike Gottschalk, 2023. "Is the disability wage gap a gendered inequality? Evidence from a 13-year full population study from Norway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    2. Nurgun Kul Parlak & Ayse Nur Ciftci, 2022. "Pandeminin Kayit Disi Istihdami Dislama Etkisi: Turkiye’de Formel-Enformel Emek Piyasalarindaki Ayrisma," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(82), pages 93-135, June.
    3. Robin Bayes & James N. Druckman & Alauna C. Safarpour, 2022. "Studying Science Inequities: How to Use Surveys to Study Diverse Populations," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 700(1), pages 220-233, March.
    4. James N. Druckman, 2022. "Threats to Science: Politicization, Misinformation, and Inequalities," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 700(1), pages 8-24, March.
    5. Bailey Houghtaling & Matthew Greene & Kaustubh V. Parab & Chelsea R. Singleton, 2022. "Improving Fruit and Vegetable Accessibility, Purchasing, and Consumption to Advance Nutrition Security and Health Equity in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Sarah L. Jackson & Sahar Derakhshan & Leah Blackwood & Logan Lee & Qian Huang & Margot Habets & Susan L. Cutter, 2021. "Spatial Disparities of COVID-19 Cases and Fatalities in United States Counties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Jianwei Huang & Mei-Po Kwan, 2022. "Examining the Influence of Housing Conditions and Daily Greenspace Exposure on People’s Perceived COVID-19 Risk and Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-19, July.
    8. Perrigo, Judith L. & Samek, Anya & Hurlburt, Michael, 2022. "Minority and low-SES families’ experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    9. Sugata Marjit & Gouranga Gopal Das, 2022. "Immunity-Driven Comparative Advantage and Its Palliative Effect on Social Health and Inequality - A Theoretical Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 9569, CESifo.
    10. Erick Rangel González & Irving Llamosas-Rosas & Sara Hutchinson Tovar, 2024. "Analysis of the initial effects of COVID-19 on jobs affiliated to IMSS, at the national and regional level, by sex and age groups," Working Papers 2024-08, Banco de México.
    11. Zajacova, Anna & Siddiqi, Arjumand, 2022. "A comparison of health and socioeconomic gradients in health between the United States and Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    12. Mooi-Reci, Irma & Trinh, Trong-Anh & Vera-Toscano, Esperanza & Wooden, Mark, 2023. "The impact of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility intentions," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    13. Ge, Jianhua & Li, Joanna Mingxuan & Zhao, Eric Yanfei & Yang, Fan, 2022. "Rags to riches? Entrepreneurs' social classes, resourceful time allocation, and venture performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).

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