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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Facing A Care Crunch: Childcare Disruption And Economic Hardships For Maine Parents During Covid-19, Sarah F. Small
Facing A Care Crunch: Childcare Disruption And Economic Hardships For Maine Parents During Covid-19, Sarah F. Small
Maine Policy Review
Pandemic-related childcare center closures along with virtual schooling forced many Maine parents to juggle their paid work with care responsibilities, often with dire economic consequences. In this article, I examine changes in the state’s childcare landscape and illustrate how the childcare crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic affected Mainers’ economic wellbeing. Using Household Pulse Survey data, I show how care disruptions dampened Mainer’s incomes and their ability to work, placing many in precarious economic situations. I conclude with an investigation of the effectiveness of policy solutions like the Child Tax Credit and further policy suggestions to support childcare in the state.
Looking Forward While Being Pushed Back: How Accurate Were Economic Forecasts For Maine During The Pandemic?, Andrew Crawley, Angela Hallowell
Looking Forward While Being Pushed Back: How Accurate Were Economic Forecasts For Maine During The Pandemic?, Andrew Crawley, Angela Hallowell
Maine Policy Review
Economic forecasting is always a challenging process and how we understand the future often relies on what we have seen in the past. As COVID-19 case numbers began to increase, economies were forced to shutter and stay at home orders were implemented. In this paper, we compare our initial forecasts for output, employment, and tax revenue to actual values for 2020. Overall Maine’s economy was more resilient than our forecasts first predicted, with tax revenues far exceeding the initial projections. However, when the numbers are explored further it becomes clear that federal funds were a critical lifeline during turbulent times, …