In reaction to the recent spread of the coronavirus, the world’s economy has taken a hit. People all around are frantic because we have so little information about the spread of the virus and don’t know how it will affect communities. The spread of the virus has caused limitations on international trade, the stock market to plummet, and businesses to suffer. The entire travel and tourism industries has been affected by the spread of the virus including travel with limitations on airlines and cruises. Although these recent events within the last two weeks have negatively affected the economy, before this epidemic, the economy seemed to be booming with economic growth and low unemployment rates.

I asked five freshmen in my dorm about their take on the economy. When I asked them, “What are your views on the current economy?”, the majority of their answers varied from one another, but all included the effects of the coronavirus. Will said, “I think the economy is very strong,” giving reasons such as many job opportunities, a strong government, and succeeding businesses. He also mentioned that the coronavirus is causing a drastic economic decline as a lot of the focus of the government is shifting to how to control and contain the spread of the virus. My roommate, Griffin, said, “The economy is doing well as many people are becoming more successful and working harder.” His reason for a strong economy is that working class people are more motivated and striving for success. He currently is working part time while in college which many college students do, contributing to the success of the economy.

Another freshman in my hall, Connor, said he sees the economy continuing to fall because “the coronavirus is negatively affecting trade which is the basis of our economy.” I found this take to be interesting because nobody really knows how the virus will continue to spread and what damage it will continue to do. In my opinion, I can see the economy falling as well because of the spread of the virus, but I think it will pick back up again with the coming of the presidential election and new research on the virus.