Population Health Research Brief Series

Black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately affected by economic hardships during the pandemic, magnifying long-standing economic inequalities.

This research brief shows that in the first year of the pandemic, older Black and Latinx adults experienced greater negative economic impacts than older white adults. Foreign-born and U.S.-born Latinx adults experienced especially significant economic hardships relative to other groups. To reduce the disproportionate economic impacts of crises like COVID-19 on older Black and Latinx adults, policymakers should prioritize economic relief measures and support broader social policy to reduce economic inequality.