1. Things look grim now but there is one path forward: free widespread testing until a vaccine is found. If we have a universal testing system, it should be possible to both contain the virus and have a functioning economy. This post explains the logic: medium.com/@yishan/free-w…
2. I'd welcome any expert comments, but by all reporting, it does seem like South Korea and in at least one village in Italy the free wide-spread testing model has proved very effective. Once implemented, massive Keynesian spending can restart the economy.
3. The alternative to free widespread testing is a lockdown that lasts 12-18 months (or more). That is bad not just for economic reasons but psychological ones. It would be traumatic for wide swaths of the population (particularly the most vulnerable).
4. This really does seem like the only way forward -- although it requires a level of state competence that hasn't been on much display in all countries. I recommend this article to policy makers.
5. I recommend this article to policy makers and would welcome any comments on the the ideas. @gmbutts @BernieSanders @AOC medium.com/@yishan/free-w…
