David Swenson, research scientist, has had some media contacts:
Tom Barton, Quad City Times, about the effects of climate change on agriculture and business in Iowa.
Kim Mackrael, Wall Street Journal. Iowa had the nation’s highest labor force participation rate going into the pandemic, but it has since declined sharply and not recovered despite modest job recovery. Why?
Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, about newly released quarterly state GDP figures and what it means in terms of Iowa’s recovery.
Iowa State University Economist Dave Swenson said manufacturers are struggling with an unusual problem during this recession. Typically, a recession is caused by overproduction, he said.
In this case, the economy halted due to the coronavirus, with governors ordering certain businesses closed and consumer spending down. Now, with the lockdowns over but many people still staying home, manufacturers have to figure out the quantity of products they need to make. "The market, it has nothing to do with the economy having to shed a whole bunch of excess inventory and housing and manufactured goods and commercial capacity," he said. "We need to figure out the proper demand."
Swenson recorded an interview with WOI/Local 5 on employment recovery and how Iowa is doing compared to the nation, and on the effects of the pandemic and recession on upcoming holiday shopping.