Mar 26, 2020

Saving lives and the economy

A Nobel laureate offers a prescription for managing COVID-19 while phasing the economy back in. Today's first-time unemployment claims number will be the largest in U.S history.

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EEC: Econ 101

A way to save both lives and the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic

by David Brancaccio , Daniel Shin and Alex Schroeder

Mar 26, 2020

Nobel laureate and NYU professor Paul Romer says there's a path forward that limits the spread of the virus while letting most people get back to work over time.

"If we spent $100 billion right now, on protective gear and testing, we wouldn't be faced with a choice of let hundreds of thousands of people die or kill the economy," Nobel Prize-winner Paul Romer says.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi Radiohead

The team

David Brancaccio Host

Nicole Childers Executive Producer

Victoria Craig Producer, BBC

Stephen Ryan Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Candace Manriquez Wrenn Producer/Editor

Jay Siebold Engineer

Brian Allison Engineer

Alex Schroeder Digital producer

Meredith Garretson Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer/Director

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