Economist Podcasts Casting the net wider: remaking the welfare state
Mar 12, 2021
Sasha Nauta, Public Policy Editor at The Economist, discusses the transformative impact of the pandemic on welfare systems. She analyzes Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan and its push for more flexible benefits to support vulnerable workers. The conversation touches on the emotional toll of social distancing, highlighting the vital need for human contact and innovations like haptic technology. Nauta also delves into the evolution of language, humorously tackling the challenge of coining new terms for modern relationships.
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Unexpected Government Support
- Margaret Hope, a self-employed chef, lost work during the pandemic.
- The Canadian government's inclusion of the self-employed in its COVID-19 relief package saved her.
Shifting Government Role
- The pandemic has shifted how governments handle crises.
- There's been a move towards greater generosity and broader support.
Risk Shift to the State
- Pandemic aid differed by directly supporting individuals.
- Governments took on risks usually shouldered by individuals, like job loss.
