Jul 21, 2020
Due to a recording glitch, this podcast starts shortly after Jamie Reeve begins his introduction of our speaker.
Noah Williams, a Professor of Economics at UW Madison, discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the Wisconsin economy. The COVID-19 pandemic is leading to unprecedented disruptions around the globe. This talk discussed the impact on the Wisconsin economy from onset of the pandemic, through the statewide Safer at Home Order, and during reopening. The Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy has been tracking the economic impact using new high frequency data on unemployment claims, consumer foot traffic, small business employment, and consumer spending. There was a rapid decline in activity from mid-March through mid-April, with varying impact across industries and locations. The economy has recovered substantially over the past several weeks, but many measures still remain depressed.