Pandemic Pressures: Small Business Survival in the Delta

This chapter explores the challenges small businesses in the Mississippi Delta faced during the pandemic, focusing on the critical support provided by financial institutions like Southern Bancorp. It compares U.S. and European approaches to economic aid, particularly the Paycheck Protection Program versus temporary unemployment schemes, revealing significant differences in labor laws and support mechanisms. The chapter also addresses the disparities in fund distribution, highlighting the struggles of various countries and the decline in small business confidence regarding recovery.