#53 FEPS Talks: The COVID-19 jobs crisis: a transatlantic perspective

A conversation between Seth Harris, acting Secretary of Labor in the administration of Barack Obama, and László Andor, FEPS Secretary General

Seth Harris, acting Secretary of Labor in the administration of Barack Obama, and László Andor, FEPS Secretary General analyse in this podcast episode how US faced the unprecedent challenge of the Covid-19 crisis. Harris defines the most immediate answer as rapid and innovative, thanks to the Democrats in the Congress rather than to President Trump. They increased unemployment benefits and the eligibility to them. However the funds are about to run out, while Republicans are proposing austerity measures. The progressive vision is represented by Democrats who advocate public investment, and a concept of inclusive economic growth. The episode also focuses on the current state of US healthcare system, the important legacy of Obamacare, and the need for further reforms in the health (and pharmaceutical) sector. It is indeed a crucial question whether it is possible to get closer to universal health coverage in the US. The conversation ends with highlighting the potential of multilateral governance for health and employment, while stressing the need for a balanced approach, in order to avoid the dominance of trade policies that would result in reducing the protection of American workers.