Webster Faculty in the News: Economic effects of pandemic

Several Webster University faculty members have been in the news sharing expertise on the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and what businesses and communities can do in response.

Whitman on COVID and 1918 Flu Pandemic

Douglas Whitman, professor in the Walker School of Business & Technology, was interviewed by CBS affiliate KMOV TV to discuss mask mandates and the lessons St. Louis could learn from the 1918 flu pandemic.

During that pandemic at the end of World War I, "People figured out how to start wearing masks, how to quarantine, and how to not congregate," Whitman said. "That's the hardest thing, and we're reflecting on the same things today. If we as a community of Americans can accomplish those three things, then we will have a much better chance of beating this pandemic."

Geneva Faculty Research Cited

A study conducted by faculty from several institutions, including Webster University Geneva, was cited in Medical and Life Sciences News. Their report researched the relationship between the severity of the first wave of the pandemic in spring 2020 and the second wave in fall 2020 in Lombardy, Italy.

Cummings on Business Response

Simone Cummings, dean of the Walker School, was interviewed about how businesses should prepare for this fall's “second wave” of COVID-19. Her interview aired several times on KMOX.

"We know individuals are sitting at home, and even when they're at work, they take breaks and go shopping. We see this a lot," she said. "So if you don't have your website optimized, there's a good chance people are going to pass you by."

Cummings also said businesses must make sure to be on the social media channels where their customers are, and to have a Plan B in case of supply disruption, including human resources.

MacNeil on Evaluating Economic Crisis

Allan MacNeil was quoted in an editorial in the Columbia Missiourian about the depth of the economic crisis that was triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There’s still plenty of uncertainty to when, where and how the pandemic will pass, which leaves uncertainty about the economy as well," the column says. "According to Allan MacNeill, a professor of political economy at Webster University, there are two common ways to define an economic crisis.

“The two biggest things we look at for an economic crisis are the GDP decline and unemployment,” MacNeill said. He is a professor of political economy teaching in both Webster's College of Arts & Sciences and the Walker School of Business & Technology.