The Negative Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a nationwide shift and forced adaptation to a new way of life. From the moment the virus began to travel across the world, changes have occurred to combat the danger posed by its uncertainty. Due to this uncertainty, neoliberalism has shaped COVID-19 in many ways. Neoliberalism emphasizes limited state intervention, more focus on individual responsibility, a wealth gap produced by an increase in income inequality, and capital accumulation. All of these factor into the COVID-19 pandemic and its responses. Neoliberalism has ultimately had a negative impact on the ways in which the U.S. has experienced the current pandemic. To begin, neoliberalism has factored into the COVID-19 pandemic due

Due to the fact that individuals have the freedom and responsibility to act on marketization as they choose, an imbalance of equilibrium is created in society. Certain individuals rise to the top while others sink to the bottom. Applying this to the COVID-19 pandemic, income inequality was prominent. The lockdown caused individuals to be shut inside their homes, but what about the homeless, for example? They did not have a place to isolate considering they did not have a home and many businesses were closed. The individuals who had money were able to isolate themselves and have access to goods and services that weren’t as accessible to others. COVID-19 additionally affected the middle- and lower-class families in our society. For example, some adults had to stop working to care for their children at home when schools closed. Many individuals also lost their jobs due to the closing of businesses. This led to a change in individual and family income rates which altered the progression of marketization. The individuals who were able to keep their jobs were able to keep making money and widening the wealth gap. The outcome of marketization factors from personal responsibility and effort in neoliberalism, so COVID-19 ultimately halted everyone’s effort to individually marketize. Harvey states, “The fundamental mission of the neo-liberal state is, at its

The uncertainty of the virus caused a trial-and-error system attempting to keep as many people safe as possible. It is clear that the state needed to interfere in order to combat the virus. Neoliberalism was not equipped to deal with the implications of the virus due to its absence in health care and public assistance. Individuals had to have guidance from the state in order to feel safe, protected, and educated to combat the virus. Neoliberalism has caused individuals to be reliant on themselves and private healthcare, so this norm caused a negative impact when the state