In the News
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April 20, 2020
Though research shows that recessions often improve population health and lower mortality rates for a variety of reasons, the unprecedented features of the COVID-19 shutdown suggest that trend might not hold this time, co-wrote Sarah Burgard, professor of sociology, epidemiology and public policy: “Predictions based on past experience must tread cautiously if we are to … mitigate the population health consequences of the coming recession.”
Boston Review -
April 20, 2020
“States quickly imitated one another in policies such as school closings and stay-at-home orders. But if such an approach were to continue, imitation could lead to the economy reopening too quickly. Once some states increase their capacity for testing and contact tracing, their changing policies might place pressure on others, even those that are unprepared, to act similarly,” co-wrote Charles Shipan, professor of political science.
The Washington Post -
April 17, 2020
“The COVID-19 situation in prisons is a moral test that, so far, our society is failing. Even when our own safety is at stake, we make knee-jerk assumptions about people who once committed a violent crime: that they cannot ever reform. These assumptions are not borne out by data. And right now, they are blinding us to what is needed to protect all of us,” wrote law professors Sonja Starr and J.J. Prescott and economics doctoral student Benjamin Pyle, whose research shows that early release of prisoners with convictions for violent crimes will not endanger society.
Slate -
April 17, 2020
“Anticipating a quick and sustained economic expansion is likely to be a failed expectation, resulting in a renewed and deeper slump in confidence. Consumers need to be prepared for a longer and deeper recession rather than the now discredited message that pent-up demand will spark a quick, robust, and sustained economic recovery,” said Richard Curtin, director of the U-M Surveys of Consumers at the Institute for Social Research.
Axios -
April 17, 2020
Amy Schulz, professor of health behavior and health education, says Detroit’s population is at high risk for COVID-19 due to air pollution, lack of access to clean water and working in jobs where exposure may be higher: “If you overlay all those factors that can increase risk of exposure to COVID with pre-existing conditions that increase severity of disease once people are exposed, the combined effects create a double jeopardy for people residing in some Detroit communities.”
WJBK-TV/Detroit -
April 16, 2020
“The relatively liberal politics of the past several decades reflected how people grew up in an era in which they could take survival for granted. This relative safety led them to become increasingly open to new ideas and more tolerant of outgroups. … Rising inequality and large-scale immigration interacting with the coronavirus are reversing this trend, demonstrating what happens when a global pandemic brings survival fears to the forefront of people’s concerns,” said Ronald Inglehart, professor emeritus of political science.
The Washington Post -
April 16, 2020
“While the Trump administration harshly blames China for its failings, it too has failed miserably. The president downplayed the risks of COVID-19 and did not prepare for an outbreak, despite abundant warnings from scientific experts. Worse, by calling COVID-19 the ‘Chinese virus,’ Mr. Trump’s words incite racism and inadvertently help (Chinese President Xi Jinping) by inducing Chinese citizens to rally behind him,” wrote Yuen Yuen Ang, associate professor of political science.
Nature -
April 16, 2020
Research by Eric Kort, associate professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, found that offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico emits half a teragram of methane each year — roughly the same climate impact as driving 31 billion miles in an average car. “We have known onshore oil and gas production often emits more methane than inventoried. With this study we show that this is also the case for offshore production, and that these discrepancies are large,” Kort said.
Reuters -
April 15, 2020
Elizabeth Birr Moje, professor and dean of the School of Education, says K-12 students will lose some school learning by this fall, but cautioned against labeling them as “behind.” “Not only is everyone — globally — in the same position, it is also the case that we have accelerated our expectations for children in dramatic ways in the last 30 years,” she said.
Bridge Magazine -
April 15, 2020
To be prepared for the next pandemic, Mahshid Abir, associate professor of emergency medicine, says the federal government would have to start continuously funding preparedness measures so stockpiles of medical supplies remain fresh: “You’re basically investing in events that are ultimately unlikely to ever occur. So it’s very hard to convince people that, oh, well, something may happen, so on a continuous basis fund x, y and z activities just in case it happens.”
CNBC
