Remote Work: The New Commonplace?

The CDC confirmed the first coronavirus case in the United States on January 21, 2020. Although it was the first of many, no one foresaw the perilous snowstorm to come. Rapidly, more deadly cases popped up around the country and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (AJMC 2021). It was then that fear began to spread, and businesses worldwide began to close their in-person operations due to health concerns. Thus began months of work from home. Due to health concerns, opportunities for businesses to cut costs, and increases in employee productivity from working remotely, remote work will likely become a more common and frequent occurrence after the pandemic ends.

Immigration Under President Biden: Expectations, Reality, and Everything In Between

Joe Biden ran as an antithesis to his predecessor, but what does what mean now that he is in office for those most affected by his decisions? As a candidate, Biden promised to not only reverse the unjust immigration policies of the previous administration but to prioritize protecting immigrant families who are essential to our country. Since Inauguration Day, most of Biden’s immigration actions have been centered around reversing Trump’s policies. Biden ran on promises to go beyond rolling back Trump administration policies, but his time in office has not exactly mirrored those campaign promises.

The Food Delivery Industry During COVID-19: Pinnacle Perseverance

Nowadays, we expect our packages to arrive within two days. Convenience has become so highly desired that it is now prioritized over other features, such as quality and price. Due to the widespread implementation of technological advancements in our everyday lives, convenience has become ingrained in our daily lives. Given the huge desire for convenience, the food industry jumped at the opportunity to capitalize on this trend. Companies created websites and apps, allowing customers to simply add an item to cart, and press order for food to be delivered right to their front doors. With this easy accessibility there has become a lack of transparency in the food delivery industry as it is unclear what goes on behind the scenes of an order. Surprisingly enough, the partnership between restaurants and food delivery apps is more parasitic than appears at first glance.

How Will We Go Forward?

For almost a year, the United States has experienced the horrors of the COVID-19 virus. From the hundreds of thousands of lives already taken, to the questioning of America’s leadership, this year has been nothing short of chaos. As we look forward, there is still a high level of uncertainty and anxiety amongst many. With a new president comes new policy; president Joe Biden took immediate steps in trying to overcome the pandemic that has already proved to be destructive. As one of his first presidential actions, on January 20, 2021, Biden implemented an executive order to require anyone who is working for or with the Federal Government or in a Federal building to wear masks and maintain social distancing. These orders were put in place to “halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by relying on the best available data and science-based public health measures,” showing that this new administration is using scientific evidence to back their policies (The White House, 2021). While this may help certain parts of the United States, Section 3 “Encouraging Masking Across America” merely provides a suggestion to the American people. There should be more local and state-level intervention to mitigate the spread of the virus. As of March 29, 15 states have no restrictions with the use of masks. Moreover, there are six states that sometimes require masks (The New York Times, 2021). Although there are not clear trends with states with no-mask policies having higher COVID-19 cases, it is clear that this inconsistency across the country reveals the differing values between states, but also the United States’ values.

ESG: The Future of Investing

As society moves towards more sustainable measures and public consciousness increases, ESG components will become more prevalent and a determinant in investing. Pivotal investment companies, such as Morgan Stanley, are already prioritizing ESG in their strategies and integrating monetized measurements to provide a competitive advantage. Currently, ESG proceedings are primarily symbolic over substantive. Many ESG topics will not have prompt impact but over time, companies can reap the benefits from the longevity of their ESG investments (Insights, 2020). However, as research and technology prevail and society looks forward, tangible initiatives will transpire and ESG investing will promise a future edge for progressive investors.

Technology's Impact on Business

As society emerges into a period of scientific acceleration, the business world prevails. The definition of business has evolved from strictly physical commerce to an ambiguous construct. Many companies have taken advantage of this opportunity, especially those coming out of the scientific sector. In a dynamic world of unknown challenges and heightened curiosity, companies like Surfacide are on the frontlines of Corporate America’s newest endeavors.

Using Canada as a Future Indicator for the U.S.

Republicans and Democrats can both agree on the fact that the coronavirus is costing the US economy a substantial amount of money. Stimulus is nearly entirely funded through government issued debt, or bonds. Debt has been a gargantuan issue for the US government for the last decade, which leaves Democrats and Republicans fighting over the size of stimulus bills. Canada’s rationale and commentary behind their recent stimulus measures may prove insightful to the United States in deciding how to proceed. The stakes are rising as countries get deeper into debt and the economic horizon is still uncertain. One strategist commented, “Canada could come off as heroic if this spending is done right…If Canada fails, all the emergency spending might have been done in vain because we won’t have the capacity to power the post-vaccine recovery” (Vieira and Mackrael, 2020). As the United States legislature debates another stimulus bill, lawmakers should consider the reasons behind Canada’s recent economic actions.

Remote Work: The New Commonplace?

The CDC confirmed the first coronavirus case in the United States on January 21, 2020. Although it was the first of many, no one foresaw the perilous snowstorm to come. Rapidly, more deadly cases popped up around the country and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (AJMC 2021). It was then that fear began to spread, and businesses worldwide began to close their in-person operations due to health concerns. Thus began months of work from home. Due to health concerns, opportunities for businesses to cut costs, and increases in employee productivity from working remotely, remote work will likely become a more common and frequent occurrence after the pandemic ends.

The Rise of SPACs

A new investment vehicle recently invaded markets, having a profound effect on traditional investing. A SPAC, or Special Purpose Acquisition Company, has drawn enormous attention in recent months. SPACs are becoming extremely popular with nearly everyone who has large sums of money and willing to invest. From NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal, to Republican giant Paul Ryan, to world-renown investor Bill Ackman, SPACs are a must have. According to Peter Atwater, founder of research firm Financial Insyghts, “If you don’t have your own SPAC, you’re nobody” (Ramkumar and Farrell, 2021). These new investment vehicles have uprooted traditional capital raising.

Is This As Good As It Is Going To Get?

As the year 2020 will live in infamy for the negative health implications it brought to the globe, 2020 will also be remembered for the most contradicting state of global capital markets which investors have ever seen. As 2021 begins, the S&P 500 Index hit an all-time high of 3,870.90 on January 26th, while the ensuing coronavirus has been exponentially increasing in cases per day (Yahoo Finance, 2021). Reactions from investors have been contradictory as they have been put into a dilemma on the basis of fundamental analysis, ethics, and capital allocation.