I think that most people of childbearing age would be way too scared to have another kid just due to financial uncertainty plus fear of birth defects (we know so little!). I wouldn't be surprised to see a surge in demand for long acting birth control and empty condom shelves right before lockdown.
I do think there will be more divorce, more violence. Americans are in for some rough times, and those two things go along with fear, frustration, desperation.
Recession investing ... for me that means not getting wiped out vs riding a star out of it. Look at what people will not do without. I consider PG, KMB, CL, CLX, JNJ as a good starter packet for long steady hold, owning companies that produce what you buy (TP!!!). Utilities, tho they may get hammered by having to not cut services for non-pay, so keep an eye on that as it may impact earnings, tho my gut feel is non-impact. Besides, doing the right thing can earn them ample goodwill. Utilities are not ever skyrockets, but they are steady payers usually at yields higher than normal corps. AEP was my first ever buy in 1995, these days I have ED, SO, AVA and others I cannot remember right now. If you can buy Your utility companies, it can have a rewarding feel to pay the darned bill.
I wouldn't normally touch a healthcare REIT, and right now would flee far, but, others may feel differently. Zero suggestions there, I don't follow that space. Pharma, biosciences... those are going to be big. MRK was my second stock buy back in 1995. Maybe not a star but reasonably steady eddie. At this point I also have PFE, ABT, GILD, LLY, SYK (devices) and others. These can be volatile so not for the squeamish nor short term. I bought GILD at around 100 a few years ago and it hasn't seen that again. Will it? I don't know, I'm in it for the long haul div collection. MRK went nowhere on price for a very long time. Again, if you are playing price, careful here.
Depending on what you think is going to happen, think distribution. SYY is everywhere, I like railroads, others may want to be in trucking or FedX, UPS. I am long term hard No on auto companies and airlines. GPC is a good way to go.
I have a zillion ideas on this, love the topic. We shall see together how US business comes through this. I'd like to see the Big Papas help their small vendors, who can then help their vendors and contractors, etc. It really needs to trickle down, but it will be up to all of us to save tiny business. There could be amazing investments right in front of you and I would encourage everyone to buy local and if you have it in you, pump some cash into the business on whatever terms you make with owner(s). I think it would be fun to be a VC, but that's not a realistic goal for me.
I went looking for a fun article from a few years back, best investments for a zombie apocalypse. We made light of it but there were great ideas in it, hundreds of people injecting ideas. I think it slipped behind a paywall, I can't link.
