Pandemic to Prosperity: October 20th, 2022

October 20th, 2022 — 
In partnership with FairCount and the Southern Economic Advancement, the National Conference on Citizenship is  releasing our latest Pandemic to Prosperity: South report, an overview of the Covid-related impacts on Southerners’ lives and livelihoods, governments, civic institutions, and overall well-being.
As disasters typically do, Covid has accelerated many pre-existing trends. In this rapidly changing context, leaders must be strategic with their policies, community engagement, and investments. State and local governments can use these findings to target structural disparities that ultimately undermine community resilience.
Some new key findings in the report can be found below.
  • LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2020 declined by 1.8 years – from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77.0 in 2020. This is the largest single-year drop in the U.S. since 1947. The seven states with the shortest life expectancy are all Southern states (MS, WV, LA, AL, KY, AR, and TN). These same 7 Southern states also had the shortest life expectancy in 2019, and then had another 2-3 years knocked off life expectancy when the pandemic hit in 2020.
  • DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: Recent state-by-state report cards on water infrastructure marked many Southern states poorly, giving Mississippi and West Virginia a grade of “D.” Louisiana received the lowest grade in the nation (D-). Its deteriorating systems frequently struggle to meet demand for potable water. In contrast, Georgia received a grade of “B-,” with widespread use of new technologies such as smart pressure reducing valves, and pressure data loggers.
  • ELECTION DENIALISM: 58% of Southerners and 33% of non-Southerners will have a “2020 election denier” on the ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives this fall. These claims by candidates at the national, state, and local levels are a continuation of the surge of misinformation and disinformation since 2020 — especially on the topics of election integrity and the Covid pandemic. This misinformation can have a significant impact on public confidence in the political system. A 2022 survey found that 64% of Americans believe that U.S. democracy is in crisis and is at risk of failing.
  • MATERNAL MORTALITY: Pregnancy-related deaths are more common in the South than in the rest of the nation. There were 1,031 pregnancy-related deaths in the South during 2019-2021, a rate of 36 deaths per 100,000 live births. During the same period, the maternal mortality rate was 22 deaths per 100,000 live births in the rest of the nation. Mississippi had the highest rate of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births (50 maternal deaths) followed by Tennessee (47), Louisiana (44), Alabama (43), Arkansas (43), and Kentucky (38).

View all of the findings here.

 

What is Pandemic to Prosperity? 

History has shown that large-scale crises accelerate pre-existing trends and permanently change societies and civic life. While most of the nation’s attention is currently focused on the response to Covid-19, we must ensure that recovery efforts in the months and years ahead lead to a more just and equitable society. Pandemic to Prosperity offers a comprehensive overview of the Covid-related impacts on our lives and livelihoods, governments, civic institutions, and overall well being.

Recovery from the pandemic will vary across communities, and different populations will face various barriers to achieving shared prosperity. Pandemic to Prosperity’s thoughtfully-curated data will illuminate the challenges facing the nation’s most vulnerable. In addition, this reliable source of wide-ranging, impartial information will be valuable in aligning public and private sector efforts and reflect progress made, or the lack thereof, over time.