Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy

Social Science Perspectives on Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event in modern society. The current effects and future implications are being examined with much interest by social scientists from URI and around the globe. The pandemic has prompted an unparalleled experiment on our families, societies, politics, and economy. URI social scientists have already begun to weigh in.

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Public Lecture Series		Research Relating to Covid-19
Covid-19 and the Law of the Sea In this video lecture, Dr. Elizabeth Mendenhall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Affairs and Political Science, examines how the law of the sea can both complicate and enable governments to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. She examines this phenomenon in the context of cruise ships Explore A Punishment and Society Perspective on Covid-19 In this video lecture, Dr. Natalie Pifer, Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, takes a social science perspective of punishment, correction, and social control during this unprecedented pandemic. She examines the challenges of incarceration for prisoners, institutions, and correctional officers. As well as shedding light on how the American correctional system reflects the issues of the American healthcare system. Explore Covid-19 and the Ripple Effects on Family Violence In this public lecture, Judy Van Wyk, Associate Professor of Sociology, discusses the effect of the pandemic on family violence and how the pandemic may increase family violence for years to come both in the United States and abroad. In addition, she discusses the impact of closures of courts and limits on the foster care system due to the pandemic on family violence outcomes. Explore Harvesting in a Pandemic: Impacts of Covid-19 on Farmworkers in the U.S. Dr. Julie Keller, an Assistant Professor of Sociology, discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic is shaping the lives of immigrant farmworkers. Dr .Keller explores the challenges faced by farmworkers during this pandemic. These challenges include decreased food demand, a massive disruption to the agricultural economy, and a myriad of safety issues including outbreaks and deaths. These problems only underscore the need to further protect these very essential workers. Explore Covid19, The Great Depression, and WWII Associate Professor of Economics, Liam Malloy, discusses the differences and similarities between the Covid-19 pandemic and the Great Depression. In light of the lessons from the Great Depression, Professor Malloy explains what policy makers will need to do to make sure the economy recovers quickly and how the pandemic could lead to long lasting social and political changes in the United States. Explore Covid-19 Crisis May Push the U.S. Government to Accelerate Plans for Universal Digital Wallets Could the pandemic increase access to digital wallets and banking access for poor Americans? Dr. Krueger presents a unique perspective regarding the lack of banking access among low income Americans and how this crisis could lead to better banking access in the future. Explore	Covid-19 and the Future of Higher Education‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‏‏‎ Disruptions have happened in higher education before. Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, and the 2008-09 recession each have had profound impacts on higher education. What can we learn from recent disruptions? And what does that tell us about the days ahead in response to COVID-19? David A. Bergeron, assistant secretary for postsecondary education at the U.S. Department of Education during the Obama Administration, discusses the major influence of Covid-19 on the realm of higher education. Explore International Organizations, Cooperation, and Covid-19 Dr. Skip Mark discusses the impact and structure of international organizations such as the WHO, and the key role they play in international cooperation and success in the fight against Covid-19. Explore Covid-19 Response in China: Parts I & II Dr. Xu, Associate Professor of Political Science discusses how China reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic, the errors made, the strategies the government implemented, as well as the Chinese governance structure that enabled China’s ultimately efficacious response. Dr.Xu also discusses her personal experience with the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine. Explore Responding to the Covid-19 Crisis-Part 1 of 3: Monetary and Financial Responses Dr. Eichacker, Assistant Professor of Economics, discusses the monetary and financial responses to Covid-19, in the first of a three-part series. Dr. Eichacker explores the physical and financial challenges, proposals for moving forward, lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, key areas to watch, and the reasons to be optimistic. Explore The Beginning of the Economic Costs of Coronavirus Dr. Malloy discusses the economic costs of coronavirus, Covid-19, unemployment claims, Okun’s Law Explore Macroeconomics and the Coronavirus Dr. Malloy discusses the potential macroeconomic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Explore	URI professor goes inside the mind of a COVID-19 panic buyer on The Public's Radio When the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in full force earlier this year, Americans loaded up on supplies and emptied grocery store shelves. With the potential for a second wave, there could be more stockpiling in the future. Now University of Rhode Island Marketing Professor Mehdi Hossain wants to find the psychological roots behind panic buying. Explore SSIREP COVID-19 Survey of Rhode Island Residents As part of a larger project funded by the Rhode Island Foundation, SSIREP conducted a survey of Rhode Island residents. The results suggest that even in a time of heightened political polarization, the Rhode Island community is coming together to support each other during the Coronavirus pandemic. Explore Pandemic Policy Parallels: Rhode Island Perspective In this original research article Dr.Catherine DeCesare, a senior lecturer in the Department of History, explores the parallels of Rhode Island’s current pandemic response, to that of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Dr.DeCesare delves into the State’s bungled 1918 response, amidst the backdrop of WWI and fierce partisanship. The response to the 1918 pandemic serves as an important reminder for today. Explore Are Rhode Islanders Staying Home? In this original research report Michael DiNardi, Assistant Professor of Economics, examines the adherence to Social Distancing in Rhode Island. He discusses the impact of the state’s emergency declaration and the stay at home order. Dr. DiNardi draws upon aggregated anonymous mobile device GPS location data to track Rhode Islander’s behavior during the pandemic. Explore Covid-19 and the Start of a Global Recession Dr. Skip Mark explores the economic, domestic, and global implications of the pandemic. Explore My Turn: Trump should act like wartime president Dr. McIntyre discusses how president Trump should utilize the Defense Production Act to fight the pandemic. Explore Our Turn: Other countries doing better than U.S. Dr. Özpolat and PhD candidate Jay Zhang discuss the need for global cooperation in fighting Covid-19. Explore Submit Your Own Work SSIREP is currently accepting Covid-19 related media and posts by URI faculty. Contact