Perspectives

When disaster strikes, citizens are fearful, and some will blame elected officials for things beyond their control, writes Andrew Reeves. But the lens of accountability is also sharpened. Partisanship will not protect our families or our livelihoods.

There is no doubt that significant economic destruction lies ahead, writes Mark Rank. But we can use this time of upheaval to rethink the importance of a social safety net that provides protection to all Americans, including the most vulnerable.

Economic data over the next few months will likely look very bad. It is simply too late for policy to prevent a severe contraction, writes Steve Fazzari. The focus now must be on quick recovery.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to plenty of uncertainty. Tim Bono, assistant dean in Arts & Sciences, offers tips for managing parts of life that remain under our control.

We would love to be able to say we have a treatment for Covid-19, writes Jessica Gold It is nice to think about a cure, especially when things seem to get worse every day. But we implore you to follow medical professionals’ advice and not get or take an experimental medication recommended without evidence of its success.

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, along with Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello, writes an op-ed in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the universities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to slow its spread and also to provide front-line medical care.

Our research finds that leaders who claim the blame for their governments’ performance when crises strike also can reap rewards, writes Andrew Reeves.

Take care of yourself, take care of each other and let’s all do whatever we can to support one another in the coming weeks and months, writes Tim Bono.

Boccaccio does not have all the answers, but he does provide an enduring model of ethical response to a crisis, writes Michael Sherberg. As we await the end of this pandemic, we would do well to pause and ask what kind of world we want to inhabit when it’s over.

Constitutional law expert John Inazu writes an op-ed in The Atlantic calling for all churches to suspend worship services and other gatherings, as some already have done, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He also argues Supreme Court precedent would permit a government order that they do.