The City of Atlanta’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Brian Eason, Alex Hathaway and Laura Wheeler

Municipal Finance Journal, 2021, vol. 42, issue 1, 5 - 22

Abstract: This research documents the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the finances of the city of Atlanta. In contrast to the run-up to the Great Recession, the city entered the pandemic in a strong financial position. Atlanta had large cash reserves available, stable revenue streams, and untapped capacity to issue debt with its strong credit rating. Furthermore, the city’s diverse economy positions it well for a rebound once the recovery begins. Nonetheless, a crisis of this magnitude presents unprecedented challenges. The reluctance to travel poses a unique threat to both the city’s tourism industry and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a city-run enterprise whose financial well-being could have repercussions for the city’s broader finances. Additionally, the city faces a range of social problems, such as high income inequality and civil unrest, that cannot be untangled from the city’s budget and economic picture moving forward.

Date: 2021
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