The effects of a nationwide economic recession will likely hit hardest those regions with vulnerable sectors.
Mark Muro, Robert Maxim, and Jacob Whiton analyzed the potential effects of the coronavirus pandemic on five vulnerable sectors: mining/oil and gas, transportation, employment services, travel arrangements, and leisure and hospitality. "More than 24.2 million Americans work in the five high-risk sectors facing a sharp slowdown. This will likely prompt significant work disruptions, furloughs, and other uncertainties in the coming months."
At the metropolitan level, they find that metro areas of all sizes with large energy and leisure/hospitality sectors will be hit hard. "On the other end of the spectrum, the metro areas positioned to be least directly affected by COVID-19 are a diverse group consisting of older, manufacturing-heavy industrial cities, agricultural towns, and some already-distressed places," say Muro, Maxim, and Whiton.
They point out that most of the country will experience the severe economic toll of the pandemic and a recession could be on the horizon, but certain regions will face particular challenges. "This suggests an important takeaway for policymakers: While essentially all of America will likely be affected by COVID-19’s economic effects, those effects will be distinct and varied from place-to-place."
FULL STORY: The places a COVID-19 recession will likely hit hardest
Holiday Travel Expected to Slow in 2020, With Economic Impacts for Cities
As the holiday season approaches and the pandemic continues, cities face an uncertain future.
Carbon Emissions Down, but Not Drastically
Transportation activity is down considerably, but other sources of carbon dioxide are still going strong.
How the Post-Pandemic Future Could Resemble the Pre-Pandemic Future
Response to coronavirus challenges in urban settings will likely be a continuity of work started decades ago.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research