Sasha Nauta, The Economist's public policy editor, discusses the deep-rooted systemic issues in elderly care that the pandemic has magnified. She advocates for community-based support models to reform nursing homes. John Fassman, the Washington correspondent, reflects on the legacy of civil rights icon John Lewis, emphasizing his role in the ongoing fight for racial justice. The conversation also touches on the evolution of economic data analysis in a post-pandemic world, highlighting the necessity of combining traditional metrics with real-time data for better insights.
The pandemic has taken its greatest toll in the world’s nursing homes—but the systemic problems surrounding elderly care long predate covid-19. Economists’ usual barometers have gone topsy-turvy during the crisis, so statisticians are turning to “real-time” data; we ask if these novel measures measure up. And reflecting on the life of America’s civil-rights icon John Lewis.For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer