Omicron Supply-Chain Disruptions Are Hitting Low-Income Communities the Hardest

  • 📰 truthout
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 41 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 20%
  • Publisher: 68%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

When the supply of essential goods gets scarce, poorer countries and individuals get frozen out of the market.

over coming months if Omicron starts spreading in Asia at the speed that it has already spread through the U.S. and Europe, and if China continues to enforce its “zero-COVID” policy, which relies on locking down whole cities and mandating universal testing if even a single case of the virus is picked up by health authorities. Lock down enough cities simultaneously and it’s inevitable that factories will also have to temporarily cease operations.

Because the U.S. and its corporate behemoths have so much bargaining power within the global economy, at least in the short term, that protects the country and its more affluent consumers from the worst impacts of this global squeeze. Prices will go up, but for those who can afford them, most goods continue to be available.

The exacerbated supply chain woes unleashed by Omicron don’t, of course, play out equally in all locations and across all income groups. The wealthier the countries and individuals, the more options they have available to them — to simply pay more to buy goods that are, at least temporarily, scarce; or, for individuals, to shop around to look for particular goods if one store doesn’t have them. By contrast, poorer countries and individuals get frozen out of tight markets.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 69. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Vietnam detects first Omicron cases in the community -state mediaVietnam has recorded its first cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the community, state media reported on Wednesday, as health authorities urged people to increase their vigilancedue to the threat from the variant.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

Exports Could Be Key Driver for China's Growth as Covid Drags Down Spending, Say AnalystsDespite global disruptions of supply chains during the pandemic, China’s trade surplus in 2021 rose to US$676.43 billion. Earthing/grounding is good for health,free & effortless,it's easy to DIY a grounding mat,pillow or sheet,no need to buy.😷🏠👣🌎 viriyabot Exports is the only driver for PRC growth! Real Estate is collapsing and Infrastructure has no funding! Because America still doesn't make its own shoes...so to speak
Source: nbcchicago - 🏆 545. / 51 Read more »

NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
Source: NPRHealth - 🏆 144. / 63 Read more »

NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
Source: NPRHealth - 🏆 144. / 63 Read more »

State to give $10,000 to low-income college students for community service workThe $60-million program aims to support students from low-income backgrounds who want to volunteer. They can’t work for a living like everyone else? This is the program, is not free money they will work to get it.
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »

The Latest Covid-19 Wave Has Battered Restaurants, According to a New ReportNew data shows the steep sales decline many felt during December.
Source: RobbReport - 🏆 309. / 63 Read more »