When Do The Kids Go Back to School?: A Conversation with Emily Oster, PhD
Description
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many people to the reality of constant decision-making: every action carries some amount of risk, and so must be weighed carefully. When it comes to parenting, that risk is multiplied. Shutting down schools was an appropriate and necessary step as soon as contagious disease reared its head, but the resulting need for child care has also caused a chain reaction in our society that has put women, in particular, out of work, and created untenable conditions for single working parents. Now, based on the current science, could it make sense to open up schools before some other areas of society open back up? How can this be done safely, and how do we cope with living with that amount of risk?
This episode was originally published as a video on February 4, 2021.