The US Caring Economy Was Broken Long Before Covid-19
On this episode of Odd Lots, we explore how various forms of childcare, eldercare and healthcare have seen costs explode and services unevenly distributed.
The disruptions caused by the pandemic have revealed deep flaws in our supply chain for physical goods. Certain market failures that had been festering for years were suddenly exposed. But long before Covid-19 arrived, various forms of childcare, daycare, eldercare and healthcare had already seen costs explode and services unevenly distributed, even as those working in the care economy remained poorly compensated.
On this episode of Odd Lots, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway speak to economist Nancy Folbre, Professor Emerita of Economics at UMass Amherst and Director of the Program on Gender and Care Work at the Political Economy Research Institute. They discuss why such crucial services have become so broken, and how they might be repaired.