COVID-19: Briefing Note #100, April 13, 2022
COVID-19: Briefing Note #100, April 13, 2022
COVID-19: Briefing Note #100, April 13, 2022
April 2022
On March 2, 2020, just over a week before a McKinsey is already exploring how to achieve
global pandemic was declared, we published sustainable and inclusive growth, the topic of the
COVID-19: Briefing note #1. Our plan was to inaugural episode of the new Future of America
publish an update on the virus’s implications podcast. McKinsey Global Institute director and
for business for as many weeks as the news felt senior partner Kweilin Ellingrud and senior partner
urgent. We did not expect to continue for more Greg Kelly discuss how leading companies can
than two years, nor to ever publish Briefing note use the pandemic recovery as an opportunity
#100, as we have today. to accelerate prosperity for more Americans.
Customers and consumers want to be associated
It’s painful to reflect on these 100 editions, on the with companies that are making a positive
millions of lives lost, the suffering and grief, and difference. Companies can accelerate inclusivity
the myriad disruptions to lives and livelihoods. But and sustainability by having real awareness,
in what is perhaps a hopeful sign, we now feel the committing to change, rewarding the change, and
time is right to stop. COVID-19 news seems less providing coaching and development to make the
urgent than at any time in the past two years. All change happen.
of McKinsey’s published work now intrinsically
accounts for the pandemic, even if it is not directly Much near-term growth will arise from a once-in-
mentioned. COVID-19 has gone from being a fresh a-lifetime wave of capital spending on physical
emergency to a fact of life. assets between now and 2027. This surge of
roughly $130 trillion in investment will flood
In a few weeks, we will relaunch this weekly report into projects to decarbonize and renew critical
with links to the latest McKinsey publications. infrastructure. But few organizations are prepared
Our new theme will be sustainable and inclusive to deliver on this capital influx with the speed
growth. After more than two years of reporting and efficiency it demands. Companies should
on a destructive force, we look forward to sharing consider implementing a portfolio-synergistic
our research and thoughts on how people and strategy in which planning is top-down, a major
organizations can build a better world. business challenge requiring savvy stakeholder
management, capital markets expertise, and
understanding of complex approval processes.