Data-Driven Response and Recovery Strategies for COVID-19
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers faced critical decisions to mitigate long-term consequences. New methods of data analysis provided valuable tools for identifying vulnerable workers and businesses in need of immediate aid, while also offering insights into evolving workplace operations and consumer behavior. Over the course of the year, The Block Center partnered with local, state, and federal policymakers, the nonprofit sector, companies, and other universities to leverage data-driven tools and insights that supported safe, effective, and equitable recovery efforts.
Beginning with our work supporting Governor Wolf and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Block Center assembled an interdisciplinary team of data and management scientists, policy analysts, and former state administration officials to assist state and local governments in the following ways:
Linking high-frequency administrative datasets to drive economic and health decision-making
Analyzing changing supply and demand trends to equitably and efficiently allocate medical supplies and services
Building digital platforms to support moderate- and long-term economic monitoring throughout the recovery 听
Science and Technology Policy for Long-term Economic Recovery
The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic were far-reaching and enduring. The Block Center emphasized that through the application of sound science and technology strategies, policymakers could not only strengthen post-pandemic economic recovery but also lay the groundwork for sustained innovation and growth. In our white paper, we outlined strategies for investment in long-term solutions to supply chain disruptions, workforce restructuring, and other critical areas of economic development.
