Will nothing be left unchanged by COVID-19? It is starting to look like the answer is pretty well no, not much.

As the nation tries to cope with clusters and outbreaks, Crikey has been looking at some of the deeper effects of the pandemic, collected here for your weekend reading. We have Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer on the surge in household cash hoarding, Kishor Napier-Raman on what the plight of the University of New South Wales means for the education sector, and Gina Rushton on the “shadow pandemic” of birth complications arising from global lockdowns.

Outside of COVID-19, the week has been a fascinating study in historical perspective. Just what do the Palace Letters reveal about the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975? Guy Rundle has taken a lengthy stab at answering. Also taking a look back (to look forward), social commentator Eva Cox has revisited her 1995 Boyer Lecture series about creating a more civil society. In the time of COVID-19, her writing still rings true.

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GLENN DYER and BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Consumers are resorting to an old-fashioned form of economic protection — hoarding cash in the event the worst happens.

GINA RUSHTON 3 minute read

Reproductive health and abortion providers say they are preparing for a 'shadow pandemic' following a wave of unintended pregnancies during the world's lockdowns.

JASON MURPHY 4 minute read

Hours worked in Australia have been trending downwards some time. And that was before the coronavirus hit. Is a four-day working week becoming more and more likely?

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

The University of NSW says it has to cut nearly 500 jobs to cope with the fallout from the coronavirus response. Will other universities follow?

BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER 3 minute read

The economy was struggling even before Melbourne had to shut down again and the pain has extended across most sectors.

CHRISTOPHER WARREN 3 minute read

All these 'rumours and reports' are giving us more villains than we really need.

EVA COX 5 minute read

Western governments are repeating the mistakes of the past. As economic crises worsen, we need investment in social capital to increase trust and well-being.

JOHN MENADUE 2 minute read

The ruling class abused its power, deliberately deceiving an elected prime minister.

AMBER SCHULTZ 4 minute read

The coronavirus lockdown makes getting into the country almost impossible. But getting out is no easy feat either.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

Cancel culture is leading to patently bizarre outcomes for the arts and media, regardless of who is 'right'.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

History suggests it is only once the pandemic is over and the government has to deal with the recession that voters will pass judgement on its handling.

STEPHEN MAYNE 3 minute read

Woolworth's management has consistently said there is nothing wrong with this side of its business. It's time it changed its mind.

CHRISTOPHER WARREN 3 minute read

As News Corp closes down more printing presses, it threatens to lock out new players.