Question A: Optimally, the state government would invest more than the proposed $1 billion in COVID relief in the form of support for small businesses, bars and restaurants, local infrastructure, and residential broadband.
Question A: Optimally, the state government would invest more than the proposed $1 billion in COVID relief in the form of support for small businesses, bars and restaurants, local infrastructure, and residential broadband.
| Economist | Institution | Opinion | Confidence | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Andreas | Bluffton University | Uncertain | 8 | It depends on what the feds do. Biden’s present stimulus proposal is almost 2,000 times bigger. It is insufficient by itself, but Ohio has a constitutional balanced budget requirement that limits the effectiveness of state fiscal stimulus. |
| Bizuayehu Bedane | Marietta College | Agree | 8 | |
| Kevin Egan | University of Toledo | Strongly Agree | 10 | The article says the state is NOT using any of the "rainy-day" fund. It is pouring out. Now is the time to use part of it. However, states are limited so federal assistance is also needed. |
| Kenneth Fah | Ohio Dominican University | Agree | 9 | Include education |
| Kenneth Fah | Ohio Dominican University | Agree | 9 | Include education |
| Hasan Faruq | Xavier University | Strongly Agree | 10 | There are currently 300K+ unemployed in Ohio. Even if $1B is divided only among the unemployed, each individual would receive $2-$3K (unless my math is wrong). This would translate to a helpful but modest stimulus in the end. |
| Bob Gitter | Ohio Wesleyan University | Agree | 7 | The money is certainly needded for rural broadband. Frankly, though, the magnitude of the overall problem is greater than $1 Billion or any amount the State could reasonably spend. A federal response is needed. |
| Nancy Haskell | University of Dayton | Agree | 5 | Difficult to answer without more information. Additional spending would benefit jobs, infrastructure, and growth, but could be offset by costs of increased taxes or reduced state financial security, depending on the source of the added funds. |
| Paul Holmes | Ashland University | Disagree | 6 | If 'support for small businesses' is poorly targeted (like the federal government's program) this may do more harm to the economy than good. Infrastructure support looks wise, though. |
| Michael Jones | University of Cincinnati | Agree | 2 | Expanding broadband access to every Ohioan is a key element for widespread, economic growth. I would like to see even more spending devoted to Internet infrastructure. |
| Fadhel Kaboub | Denison University | Strongly Agree | 10 | The jobs data is showing that the recovery is going to be slow and painful, especially in rural areas. OH should use its $2.7B rainy day fund to Use it to invest in broadband, affordable housing, clean energy/transportation to boost the recovery. |
| Michael Myler | University of Mount Union | Agree | 7 | Merely reallocating funds from one program to another program is not necessarily expansionary. Expansionary fiscal policy requires an increase in government spending. |
| Joe Nowakowski | Muskingum University | Agree | 8 | I didn't see anything in the plan for schools to reopen safely. That is key to bringing the economy back. |
| Curtis Reynolds | Kent State University | Agree | 5 | Expanded broadband is important, but won't happen for several years. Helping restaurants and bars is good, but was needed a while ago. |
| Lewis Sage | Baldwin Wallace University | Agree | 9 | Smoothing and accelerating the recovery, particularly with infrastructure spending, is worth a tax increase. |
| Dean Snyder | Antioch College | Strongly Agree | 8 | |
| Albert Sumell | Youngstown State University | Agree | 8 | $1 billion is inadequate given the scope of the problem. That being said, how the relief funds are prioritized is as important - if not more - than how much is invested. |
| Ejindu Ume | Miami University | Strongly Agree | 8 | |
| Andy Welki | John Carroll University | Agree | 7 | While the optimal total number may be higher, the additions should be targeting toward statewide broadband coverage. |
| Kathryn Wilson | Kent State University | Agree | 5 | It is hard to know the appropriate size of the state investment without knowing the federal response. However, I believe there is room to do more as this does not tap into the rainy day fund at all, and the bigger harm is in not doing enough. |