I think this pandemic is good for us in the long run.

I think it’s teaching us a lot of valuable lessons, if we’re willing to listen.

In software development, “chaos testing” is a big deal. It goes like this: try to break the system while it’s running. If we can break it, then we can find its flaws and then fix them.

This shock can be used as chaos testing for our economy. Think of everything we’ve learned in this past week itself:

1. Specialized economies are fragile and vulnerable to shock. (the trade war and the pandemic both revealed this)

2. Our governments cannot solve supply chain problems in isolation. (mask and test kit shortages can’t be monied away)

3. Local industries will receive a boost from governments. There’s no need to rely on foreign countries when you can produce more locally, regardless of cost — it also makes your economy antifragile.

4. Government spending is, without a doubt, a Very Good Thing. (or else risk large scale social safety net failure — as we are seeing now)

5. Pollution can only be reduced by reducing consumption. (China’s output of greenhouse gases plummeted. Italy’s waterways are clear for the first time in a long time.)

6. Healthcare affects everyone, because if your neighbour has a cold, eventually you’ll sneeze too.

7. There is a big difference between ‘fear mongering’ and rational responses to situations. (see South Korea, with its openness re: information and the positive effect from that, v/s many other countries)

8. Working from home is one of the best ways to save the environment, decrease cost of doing business, increase productivity, and boost employee happiness in general.

9. Most things can be delivered at home on bicycle. So, in most cases, why inconvenience yourself by going to a redundant physical store? Reduce your carbon footprint.

10. Pandemic & disease awareness will result in better healthcare overall. We will see that health spending is about more than just doctors and drugs, but is a more holistic commitment.

What do you guys think? In this dark cloud hanging over all of us, are there more silver linings to be found?