What you're not hearing about the end of the Covid era

On Friday we will cease publication of Data Insights: Daily Covid-2019 Monitor, because public health authorities have stopped providing case and fatality data as the pandemic era ebbs. At the onset of the pandemic, first, it was critical to know that global security authorities thought Covid was a Chinese bio-weapon, requiring extreme precautions. Second, it was critical to know that Covid was not in fact very dangerous. Third, the authorities would be willing to take extreme fiscal and monetary measures to rescue the locked-down economy. Fourth, the stimulus, combined with the brevity of lockdowns, would enable V-shaped economic recovery. Fifth, lockdowns were not effective at preventing cases or fatalities, so re-opening would not present a risk. Sixth, inflation was inevitable as too much money started chasing too few goods. Seventh, the variants would not be more lethal. The efficacy of vaccines was disappointing, but their arrival was a critical boost to confidence. Looking forward, the pandemic taught some people to follow authority figures out of fear. But more broadly it brought forth an efflorescence of productivity-enhancing technologies and techniques, allowing real GDP to move to new highs with no additional workers. The 2024 election may pit DeSantis against Newsom, which would be a straight-up choice between two diametrically opposed strategies and experiences during the pandemic.