Thinking In a Pandemic | Boston Review
Become a Member | Boston Review

A Political and Literary Forum

Menu Search
Donate Shop Join

Economy

Class & Inequality, Politics

When Will Capitalism End?

Rumors of the imminent death of capitalism have often been greatly exaggerated. But that doesn’t mean we must give up on making things better.

Alyssa Battistoni

Class & Inequality

We're Not All In It Together

The deep, growing divisions in U.S. society have an outsize effect in determining who suffers from this pandemic—as well as how the government responds.

Rajan Menon, Jeffrey Kucik

Class & Inequality, Global Justice

What 30 Percent Unemployment Looks Like

As we know from South Africa's crisis, political and social fault lines will shape the contours of joblessness.

Nicholas Rush Smith

Class & Inequality, Science & Nature

Recessions often improve population health, but COVID-19 may be different

Mortality rates typically fall during economic downturns. But the unprecedented features of the COVID-19 shutdown suggest that trend might not hold this time.

Sarah Burgard, Lucie Kalousova

Class & Inequality

What a Solidarity Economy Looks Like

Despite President Bolsonaro's COVID-19 denialism, a small Brazilian city has one of the most ambitious responses in the world.

Paul Katz, Leandro Ferreira

Forum

Taxing the Superrich

For the sake of justice and democracy, we need a progressive wealth tax.

Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman

Class & Inequality

Work After Quarantine

COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of our labor markets just as much as the fragility of our public health and welfare systems. As we take the economy out of its induced coma, we should ask what kinds of jobs we want and need.

Brishen Rogers

Class & Inequality, Politics

Meet the Bailout's New Slush Fund

The battle over the bailout—set to be delivered through a once-obscure Treasury Department mechanism called the Exchange Stabilization Fund—has only just begun.

Andrew Elrod, Mark Engler

Class & Inequality

Should There Be a COVID-19 Rent Strike?

While the government and some banks have announced mortgage moratoriums, they have not insisted that rent relief be passed on to tenants. Many renters don’t know what they will do come April 1, let alone May 1.

Mordecai Lyon

Class & Inequality

End Shareholder Primacy Once and For All

We face an economic crisis not least because the rules of corporate governance slight workers and preclude economic resiliency. We must reform them now.

Lenore Palladino

Class & Inequality

Thomas Piketty Takes On the Ideology of Inequality

In his sweeping new history, the economist systematically demolishes the conceit that extreme inequality is our destiny, rather than our choice.

Marshall Steinbaum

Class & Inequality

Step One in Fighting the COVID-19 Economic Crisis

We must act now to support families and businesses. Greatly expanding U.S. unemployment insurance is an obvious way to go—in part because the system is already up and running.

Arindrajit Dube

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Vital reading on politics, literature, and more in your inbox

Love Boston Review?

Then you’ll love our new membership program! Join us to support engaged discussion on critical issues. You’ll also enjoy exclusive membership benefits.
Get Started

Copyright © 1993-2020 Boston Review and its authors.

Support Boston Review

Become a Member

Make a tax-deductible donation today

Boston Review Printing Note: For best printing results try turning on any options your web browser's print dialog makes available for printing backgrounds and background graphics.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Get Our Weekly Emails

Confronting the challenges of this moment demands all the moral and deliberative clarity we can muster. While much remains uncertain, Boston Review’s responsibility to public reason is sure. Sign up for our newsletter and don’t miss a thing. 

THINKING IN A PANDEMIC

Donate Today