While the deep, structural damage inflicted by the first round of lock­downs had already darkened the global eco­nomic outlook, more countries are now doubling down. Europe is on track for a double-dip recession, while the outlook for the US could be weighed down more by the promised policy changes of a Biden/Har­ris administration. In this Digger, on top of historic tax increases and a surge in state interventionism, we examine the very real risk of a total, national economic shutdown. We’ll also look at the retire­ment crisis, another major risk factor that the pandemic mas­sively escalated, and how Americans can invest IRA funds outside of their country.