Casualty Counts

When National Public Radio first launched their Planet Money podcast, they had a Flickr photo stream to go with it, and I contributed photographs. I thought of that today while looking through some recent photographs I'd taken. Like this one:

During the "Great Recession" small business closings were everywhere, and they were something of a big deal. Now, small business closings are everywhere, but given the general state of anxiety over the pandemic, they receive much less notice. Part of it is, of course, the pandemic sucking all of the metaphorical oxygen out of the room. People are very much concerned with their health, and its understandable. But I think that it's also that these sorts of business closings are considered a secondary effect. During the financial crisis that kicked off the recession, business closings and job losses were the primacy means that the situation impacted a number of people. Now, they're a side effect.

But one with lasting consequences. It's likely that some of these businesses will be replaced when things settle out, however that comes to pass, but many will likely be simply absorbed. Maybe Costco Travel broadens its portfolio a bit, and obviates the need for something to take the place of Cruise Holidays. If that happens, where do those former employees go?