Covid-19 is a Consolidation of Power – The Destruction of Small Businesses - Arrogant and overpaid politicians have spent the last year arbitrarily determining who is essential and who is supposedly not. In practice, this has meant that countless small and medium-sized businesses have been punished, whereas large, multinational corporations have been allowed to make millions.
The impact of Covid lockdowns on small and medium-sized businesses has been well studied. After the first round of lockdowns last year, a report released by the International Trade Centre (ITC) found that nearly two-thirds of small and micro businesses from 132 countries said they were “strongly affected” by lockdowns, with around 20% of firms saying they were close to shutting down permanently.
Covid Small Business – Covid-19 Small Business
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In the UK, a report from September of last year found that over 230,000 small businesses were forced to close since the first lockdown was imposed in March. Furthermore, a survey conducted in October of 2020 found that around 6m small businesses were financially struggling due to the lockdowns, with this situation threatening over 16m jobs. In the US, a report from last year estimated that nearly 100,000 businesses had permanently closed since the start of the pandemic.
The news is not all bad on the small business front however. There have been many instances where small business owners have simply refused to comply with government dictates. In Italy, some restaurant owners have opened their restaurants for dinner service despite government restrictions in acts of peaceful civil disobedience. Owners have been using the hashtag “#IoApro” (I Open) on social media to spread the word. In San Diego, some business owners opened despite the restrictions, saying that they were simply “trying to survive.”
Sources:
Reuters Staff (22 June, 2020) Small, medium businesses feel brunt of lockdown pain: survey Small, medium businesses feel brunt of lockdown pain: survey | Reuters
Rebecca Smithers (26 October, 2020) Covid leaves 6m UK small businesses and 16m jobs in 'precarious position,' The Guardian Covid leaves 6m UK small businesses and 16m jobs in 'precarious position' | Small business | The Guardian
Lily Canter (23 Sep. 2020) COVID-19 could cost small businesses up to £69bn, Yahoo Finance The average UK small business has lost almost £12,000 due to COVID-19 (yahoo.com)
Anne Sraders & Lance Lambert (28 Sep. 2020) Nearly 100,000 establishments that temporarily shut down due to the pandemic are now out of business, Fortune COVID business: Nearly 100,000 establishments that temporarily shutdown are now out of business | Fortune
NBC San Diego (9 Dec. 2020) ‘It's Called Freedom': Small Businesses Openly Defy State Shutdown Orders https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/coronavirus/its-called-freedom-small-businesses-openly-defy-state-shutdown-orders/2465627/
Luke Hurst, AP (16 Jan, 2020) ‘This is civil disobedience’: Restaurants in Rome defy coronavirus closures ‘This is civil disobedience’: Restaurants in Rome defy coronavirus closures | Euronews
RT (16 Jan. 2020) As officials talk of tighter lockdown, Italian restaurants open their doors in protest (VIDEOS) As officials talk of tighter lockdown, Italian restaurants open their doors in protest (VIDEOS) — RT World News
BBC News (30 July, 2020) Amazon, Facebook and Apple thriving in lockdown Amazon, Facebook and Apple thriving in lockdown - BBC News
Business Standard (21 April, 2020) YouTube sees surge in subscriber base, views due to Covid-19 lockdown YouTube sees surge in subscriber base, views due to Covid-19 lockdown | Business Standard News (business-standard.com)
Mark Bergen & Emily Chang (13 April, 2020) YouTube Sees 75% Jump in News Views on Thirst for Virus Updates, Bloomberg YouTube Sees 75% Jump in News Views on Thirst for Virus Updates - Bloomberg
Simon Read (7 Oct. 2020) Billionaires see fortunes rise by 27% during the pandemic, BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54446285
