Observe the Economic Fallout Six Years Later

 The lasting economic effects of the Covid lockdowns, highlighting ongoing challenges in various sectors and the overall impact on employment and living standards. Despite the desire to move past the topic of Covid, the author argues that the repercussions of the lockdowns are still felt strongly today.

• Continued Impact of Lockdowns: The author emphasizes that the forced shutdowns during the pandemic have had profound and lasting effects on economic activity and social structures, marking it as one of the significant calamities in modern history.

• Dismal Job Market: According to data from March 2026, the economy lost 92,000 jobs in one month, pushing the unemployment rate to 4.4%. Job losses were widespread across sectors such as leisure and hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing, indicating a failure to recover from the disruption caused by lockdowns.

• Persistent Economic Weakness: Many businesses, particularly small ones, have not fully regained their footing since the lockdowns, compounded by rising costs from tariffs and health insurance in 2025.

• Labor Market Shifts: Employment/population ratios remain low, which suggests that many people have left the labor force permanently since the lockdowns, resulting in a significant number of individuals classified as disabled.

• Inflation and Purchasing Power: The author points to inflation as a major issue caused by the extensive money creation during the lockdowns, which resulted in a substantial decrease in the dollar’s purchasing power and high costs of living, especially for housing and groceries.

• Manufacturing and Tariffs: Despite attempts by the government to boost manufacturing through tariffs, these measures have not helped reduce the trade deficit, but instead have raised government revenue at the cost of manufacturing jobs.

• Federal Reserve Challenges: The Fed's balance sheet remains troubled, with substantial daily interest payouts. The quantitative easing measures taken during the pandemic have complicated attempts to stabilize the economy.

• Disrupted Economic Indicators: Many economic indicators have been distorted post-lockdowns, making it challenging to assess genuine recovery or ongoing recession.

• Future Risks: The article raises concerns that lockdowns could recur under other pretexts, urging vigilance among the public and highlighting an ongoing phase of uncertainty that resembles previous economic downturns.

The analysis concludes that the economic fallout from the Covid lockdowns is still affecting society significantly, with implications for employment, consumer prices, and overall economic health. The author calls for awareness regarding potential future lockdowns and encourages signing a resolution aimed at addressing these concerns. The notion that society has entered a new period of barbarism due to the historical shock of lockdowns warns of continuing social and economic challenges. 

https://brownstone.org/articles/observe-the-economic-fallout-six-years-later/