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Covid-19 relief schemes in many countries have supported furloughed workers and helped keep businesses afloat in recent months.
But analysis by the Bellingcat Tech Team has found indications of geographic inequities in some programs. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/12/04/what-restaurants-and-maps-can-tell-us-about-billions-of-dollars-of-covid-19-relief-funds/
But analysis by the Bellingcat Tech Team has found indications of geographic inequities in some programs. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/12/04/what-restaurants-and-maps-can-tell-us-about-billions-of-dollars-of-covid-19-relief-funds/
We looked at schemes in the US, France and the United Kingdom, burrowing into sector-specific data and creating interactive maps for our readers to explore.
The US data appeared to suggest that the Payment Protection Program (PPP), which offered loans to small and medium sized business, could have exacerbated existing inequalities.
In Los Angeles, for example, data showed that restaurants in wealthy neighborhoods such as the Hollywood Hills had generous access to PPP loans. However, establishments around South Central Los Angeles, which are much less wealthy and much less white, had far fewer loans.
This pattern was repeated in towns and cities across the United States.
Programs analyzed by Bellingcat in Great Britain and France show more uniform disbursement of aid, especially through larger programs. However, smaller programs, like the UK Small Business Grants Fund still show concerning correlations with income and race.
Read the full story and explore the data we used to produce this piece. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/12/04/what-restaurants-and-maps-can-tell-us-about-billions-of-dollars-of-covid-19-relief-funds/
