The New York Times reports that small businesses will be further affected indirectly. The government spends more with American businesses than any other buyer, and a reduction in funds will translate to reduced buying power and a weakened economy.
"Government spending is at 8 percent of gross domestic product, and at a time like this, when the private sector is still climbing off the mat, the last thing you need is for the public sector to pull out," said Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told the Times. "So nonpartisan analysts predict that if the sequester takes hold, it will lower the growth rate of G.D.P. by half a percent. And that translates to an unemployment stuck at 8 percent and hundreds of thousands of fewer jobs."
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.