Why do pandemics leave a trail of disruption? What economic and social costs are in the trail? Which of these costs lead to long-term effects?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Pandemics have the potential and propensity to leave trails of destruction, logistical and otherwise, wherever they may spread. This potential can be exacerbated depending on several factors, including elapsed time of the crisis, geographical spread, and mitigation efforts. From an economic standpoint, it seems that the majority of costs revolve around middle- to low-income citizens, and, by association, blue-collar workers, while social costs are more prevalent in previously heavily-populated geographical locations. As the pandemic spread, both in literal contexts and in media coverage/public awareness, those unable to reasonably work and operate from home were inherently harder hit by its circumstances. Conversely, those who were better positioned to isolate while forgoing relatively negligible comforts were both naturally shielded from the virus and able to maintain a similar quality-of-life to pre-pandemic standards. For example, while a factory worker was strongly compelled to go to work despite suggested governmental regulations, an attorney was readily able to work from home, all the while being compensated at levels astronomically higher than his workforce counterpart.

Why Do Pandemics Leave a Trail of Disruption? What Economic