Dealing with the U.S. economic and public health effects of the coronavirus recession compassionately and with an eye on a strong recovery
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On March 24, I presented to a teleconference of about 100 economists and other experts gathered by my colleagues Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley my ideas on how we should use U.S. fiscal policy to provide relief to economic victims and set the U.S. economy…
The coronavirus pandemic requires a wartime commitment for essential workers’ access to childcare
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The current public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is reshaping society and the U.S. labor force in ways not experienced since World War II. Factories that previously made luxury products are being repurposed to produce medical and sanitation supplies. Retired doctors a…
The coronavirus recession exposes how U.S. labor laws fail gig workers and independent contractors
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The mandatory public health measures to control the spread of COVID-19 are deepening the effects of the coronavirus recession. More than 17 million workers are now seeking Unemployment Insurance benefits, 42 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico are under shelter-in-place orders, and the U.S.…
The coronavirus recession and economic inequality: A roadmap to recovery and long-term structural change
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This post reflects our organization’s overall guiding policy principles for confronting the coronavirus recession and its relationship to U.S. economic inequality as detailed on April 16. These principles still hold as there remains much to be done across communities and workplaces throughout the Un…
Two significant U.S. macroeconomic needs to consider amid the coronavirus pandemic
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Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley organized a teleconference in late March of more than 100 economists and other experts at which I, along with several other economists, presented our ideas for responding to the recession that was already developing due to th…
Rescuing small businesses to fight the coronavirus recession and prevent further economic inequality in the United States
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Overview The U.S. Congress last month mobilized trillions of dollars in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to help workers and businesses survive while mandatory COVID-19 public health measures put our economy on hold. While the size of the support in the CARES Act—around $2.2 tri…
The three ways fiscal policy can be used to fight COVID-19 and the coronavirus recession
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Late in March, before the U.S. Congress passed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and President Donald Trump signed it into law, economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman at the University of California, Berkeley invited me to kick off an online convening of more…
U.S. economic policy principles for confronting the coronavirus recession
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This post reflects our organization’s overall guiding policy principles for confronting the coronavirus recession as detailed on March 24. These principles still hold as there remains much to be done across communities and workplaces throughout the United States now and in the weeks and months ahead…
The most exposed workers in the coronavirus recession are also key consumers: Making sure they get help is key to fighting the recession
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Overview The United States is currently facing the fastest economic downturn in its history, which, without strong action, could also become one of the most severe that it has ever seen. In response, U.S. policymakers are currently distributing $2.2 trillion in new stimulus funds, as well as discuss…
Three important questions to answer about U.S. financial stabilization policies amid the coronavirus recession
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The Federal Reserve Board last month took extraordinary actions to deal with the financial shocks delivered by the coronavirus pandemic. And Fed action, in a number of ways, will determine how well the recently enacted $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act deals…