The NBA’s Reopening Is a Warning Sign for the U.S. Economy
Maybe Americans aren’t as eager to return to work as their bosses think.
He has a good reason to return, but about his coworkers?
Photographer: Harry How/Getty Images North AmericaAs a fan of professional basketball and a student of economic game theory, I am becoming increasingly concerned. I fear that the NBA, in particular, may be reflecting a still-hidden trend in the broader economy: People may not actually be so keen to return to work.
The NBA is planning to resume a fragment of its regular season, and then the playoffs, in a custom-tailored “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, on July 30. The games will be played only among the top teams in a single complex, with regular testing and tight regulations governing the entry of outsiders. The league is going to the maximum lengths possible to ensure a safe reopening.