The economic implications of snow

After a second-straight weekend of being snowed in my house, I was forced to think of nothing but the weather. Of course, snow affects everyone’s lives to some degree. School is canceled, causing elated children. A foot of snow is predicted, causing shelves at grocery stores to empty within hours. This cause and effect relationship was clear when the big snowstorm hit the east coast right before the holidays, causing mall traffic to decrease 10%. The same storm, however, caused online retail sales to be 22.4% greater than those seen in 2008 (http://bit.ly/9bqwB5).
Those are the obvious impacts of snow. However, as we have discussed in class, economics is a study of people, or more eloquently, “A social science that studies how individuals, governments, firms and nations make choices on allocating sources.”

I realized that the record-breaking snowfalls seen in our region have had a much deeper, more personal impact on the economy. Not only does the inclement weather impact qualitative details, but it affects the people who make up the U.S. economy, which does not need more damage done. These influences include causing many to become unable to report to work, either by having to stay home with the children or being literally snowed in and unable to leave.

Washington, D.C. Employment Attorney Camilla McKinney told WUSA-9 that an employer, in most circumstances, has a right to request for an employee to report to work. However, employees can most likely respond with a request to work from home, use a leave or use a personal day (http://bit.ly/d9g1DI).

But what for those on hourly compensation who need every dollar they can get? Or what if those options aren’t there? Should the employee ask for a day off without pay?

These circumstances just show the circular aspect of our country’s economy. When those people can’t get to work, they aren’t paid, so they are forced to cut back on spending since they are bringing in less money. As businesses earn less money, job loss occurs and so on and so on.

IN THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN (and crazy winter)… just realize that every action has a reaction, and another, and another, and another (that may be less obvious and more personal).

-- Alex Harper