Impact of COVID-19 & Economic Outlook for Small Business – A Survey Based Study

Authors

  • Prashanth Ramachandra William Fremd High School
  • Johnny Kent
  • Jaclyn Han

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i2.1560

Keywords:

COVID-19, Economy, Small Business, COVID Impact, COVID Economy

Abstract

The unprecedented challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic not only continue to be a major public health concern, but also impose serious economic uncertainty on small businesses across the nation. To assess how small businesses2 were impacted in the first half of 2020 and gauge their economic outlook for the second half of 2020, I conducted an original survey of 86 companies. The results reveal several important metrics. First, 40% of surveyed companies drastically reduced operations for a duration of 1 to 2 months in first half of 2020, with most resorting to reduction of hours, furloughs, and/or layoffs. Second, 75% of companies sought Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and every company that applied for PPP received approval. Third, 30% of companies forecast a decrease in revenue and reduction in staffing in the second half of 2020. Fourth, a trend of delayed receivables and increased expenses due to Covid-19 becomes evident.  Fifth, businesses overwhelmingly report an imminent need for a second stimulus relief from Congress to stabilize their operations and to avoid reductions in employment.

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References or Bibliography

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Bartik, A. W., Bertrand, M., Cullen, Z. B., Glaeser, E. L., Luca, M., & Stanton, C. T. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on small business outcomes and expectations. PNAS, 117(30), 17656-17666. [202006991]. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006991117, https://doi.org/10.3386/w26989

Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Stepner, M., & Hendren, N. (2020). The Economic Impacts of COVID-19: Evidence from a New Public Database Built Using Private Sector Data (pp. 1-41, Working paper No. 27431). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Opportunity Insights. Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://opportunityinsights.org/paper/tracker/.

Chow, M. J. (2012, July). Small Business Indicators of Macro-economic Performance: An Update (Tech.). Retrieved https://www.nfib.com/Portals/0/PDF/AllUsers/research/studies/macro-economic-performance-nfib-201207.pdf.

Kobe, K., & Schwinn, R. (2018, December). Advocacy Releases “Small Business GDP, 1998–2014” (Tech. No. SBAHQ-15-M-0146). Retrieved https://advocacy.sba.gov/2018/12/19/advocacy-releases-small-business-gdp-1998-2014/.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Report (Rep.). (2020, June 30). Retrieved https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/PPP%20Results%20-%20Sunday%20FINAL-508.pdf.

Published

07-01-2021

How to Cite

Ramachandra, P., Kent, J. ., & Han, J. . (2021). Impact of COVID-19 & Economic Outlook for Small Business – A Survey Based Study. Journal of Student Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i2.1560

Issue

Section

HS Research Projects