Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Erin Holmes
Second Advisor
Matthew Reysen
Third Advisor
Marie Barnard
Relational Format
Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and discuss how longstanding systemic failures in the United States exacerbated the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on the American economy, essential healthcare workers, and overall public trust in institutions. A review of the existing literature surrounding this topic and the subsequent results of various studies were used to compose this thesis. The United States has a painful lack of worker protections and tends to view members of its workforce as expendable, even in times such as pandemic when they are deemed essential. Healthcare workers in particular faced increasing threats to their physical health and an environment that precipitated a rapid decline in the overall mental health of those employed in hospitals and other healthcare settings. In addition to this, the United States as an institution was grossly underprepared to deal with the economic consequences that COVID-19 related shutdowns had on businesses across the country and had very few plans in place to prevent the subsequent spike in unemployment. The lack of preparedness demonstrated by both federal and state level governments to deal with this crisis and the ensuing fallout shows an example of how these systemic failures affected Americans as people, as employees, and as citizens of the United States. It also shows how these failures were brought into the spotlight and exacerbated by the pandemic, and how they eroded the public’s trust in institutions within the United States.
Recommended Citation
Markley, Abbey M., "Beyond the Bug: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Exposed Longstanding Systemic Failures in the United States Workforce and Economy" (2026). Honors Theses. 3549.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3549
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