HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE SAY: LET'S REOPEN BUSINESS.

Whether or not to reopen the economy and to what extent is top of mind for policymakers right now even though it looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Fears of a second wave of infections, an economic relapse, more deaths, and no vaccine add to the uncertainty of what life will be like after the initial lockdown is lifted.

Public opinion on this action also is divided, according to a survey by global market research firm Ipsos. People in high-income households are most likely (42%) to want the economy and businesses to reopen despite the virus, compared to 36% of low-income households.

Economist Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown University, notes that there could be a combination of factors contributing to the high-income response. "They own businesses that are hurting; they want their stocks to recover; or they have less to lose from a reopening as their health is not in danger from exposure to coworkers and customers."

Richard Florida, professor of economic analysis and policy at the School of...