L.A. is prosecuting more than 70 businesses so far for allegedly flouting COVID-19 rules. The group includes pet groomers, salons and smoke shops.
Over five years, we studied many public transparency and grading systems in restaurants, finance, health, environment, safety and other areas. We found that information was most effective when it is provided where people make choices, and in a way that everyone can understand, regardless of education or language skills.
Creating this system would require cash-strapped governments to quickly develop grading standards and expand inspection capacity. But the cost of fearful and uncertain consumers and workers who can’t tell which businesses are safe would be much greater. To start, grades could be introduced in stages, with state and local governments that already require standards taking the lead.