Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/216448 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 13136
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
It is almost certain that the world economy is entering a recession of historic proportions; how bad things get will depend on how governments manage the Covid-19 pandemic. At the core of the problem lies a very difficult choice: whether to "flatten the curve" of the epidemic or whether to flatten the curve of the recession. It is unlikely that both can be achieved and, in this case, it is better to address the tradeoff heads-on rather than try to ignore it or assume it doesn't exist. Because developing countries are less prepared to deal with the consequences of an economic downturn, they might not be able to afford "social distancing" policies for extended periods.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
jobs
labor and development
developing countries
dynamic optimization
JEL: 
I3
J20
J46
J48
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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