Economic Impacts  

The COVID-19 virus pandemic has led to unprecedented interruptions in economic activity around the world. Economists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture analyze the effects of the pandemic o the state's agricultural and rural economies. 

Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Agricultural Markets

• June 2020 - Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Agricultural Markets

  This paper examines the many economic factors and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the agriculture sector. In efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19, many states and countries shut down several economic areas such as tourism and entertainment venues, restaurants, personal services, and some manufacturing facilities. This has led many areas into a recession. The authors of this paper examine the effects this recession has on these topics: macroeconomics; trade; supply chain; consumer behavior; food service/grocery; meat processing; forestry and wood products; local food systems; food waste; food insecurity; major commodity crops; agricultural finance; agricultural labor; rural health care; and research and outreach priorities.

  Co-chairs: Jayson Lusk, Purdue University and John D. Anderson, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

• Executive summary here.

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Find analyses of the meat and dairy landscape from land grant experts around the South. 

Analysis from Arkansas' agricultural economists: