COVID-19 Thought Leadership Digest: February 18, 2021

In today's newsletter, you'll find takeaways from several recent events that explored the pandemic's ongoing impact on communities around the globe, including our Economic Outlook event in London. Next week, we're looking forward to the next event in our Meeting of the Minds series, which will touch on the ways different nations have responded to the health crisis. Find more details below.

COVID-19 Research and Insights from Chicago Booth Review

How should the US approach further pandemic relief?
Economic experts including Booth's Steve Kaplan weigh in on the role and targeting of further direct payments to households.

The COVID-19 trolley problem
US public-health policy has fallen behind virus growth again and again, says Booth distinguished senior fellow John H. Cochrane.

How has the pandemic changed the labor market?
Marianne Bertrand, Steven J. Davis, and Matthew J. Notowidigdo discuss the impact of COVID-19, and policies created to counter it, on the US workforce.

Follow CBR’s COVID-19 page and social channels for the latest insights from Booth faculty.

Select Thought Leadership in the Media

Job shifts ahead argue for large stimulus
February 17 | Bloomberg Opinion
A working paper coauthored by Steven Davis concludes that COVID-19 will be a persistent reallocation shock.

Austan Goolsbee on reflation and COVID relief
February 16 | Bloomberg Markets
Austan Goolsbee speaks about reflation and the need for stimulus.

Joe Biden's huge bet: The economic consequences of 'acting big'
February 15 | Financial Times
Randall Kroszner says the heavy fiscal stimulus in response to the pandemic is appropriate, but the debt created does have a cost.

Lessons from the Great Recession that inform the current economic crisis
February 11 | CNBC: Squawk Box
Austan Goolsbee discusses the details of President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief bill.

The post-pandemic playbook: building back broader
February 8 | Project Syndicate
Raghuram G. Rajan cautions against centralized policies, stressing the importance of nurturing local leadership in reviving economically disadvantaged communities.

Making a good job of remote work
February 7 | Financial Times
"Remote work gained ground because of the pandemic and has the potential to produce great long-term benefits for employers and workers alike," write Jonathan Dingel and Brent Neiman.

To stay up-to-date with media mentions, follow Booth’s In the News page and social channels.

COVID-19 Content across Campus

How will Europe grapple with the economic downturn?
At Economic Outlook London, Veronica Guerrieri, Randall S. Kroszner, and Brent Neiman discussed how COVID-19 and Brexit are still feeding uncertainty in European economies.

Steering vulnerable communities through crisis
At a Rustandy Center event, Bowie Lam, ’20 (AXP-19), Caroline Grossman, ’03, and other experts discussed how NGOs can best serve their communities amid COVID-19.

Health Diagnostics 2021: 'Everything has changed'
A recent Polsky Center event featuring several Booth alumni explored the pandemic's impact on the healthcare industry.

Lighting the way toward employee well-being
Alumnus Greg Hodge, ’16 (EXP-21), discusses workplace wellness, the responsibility of employers, and how he's been facing the challenges of the pandemic.

The Book of Booth: Cargill CEO Dave MacLennan, ’88
MacLennan shares his reflections on the immense changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and on the global food corporation's commitments to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Lack of trust in doctors undermines COVID-19 vaccination strategy
ProMarket looks at recent data from the Financial Trust Index, administered by Booth, which suggests that Americans are not as willing to be vaccinated as the government expects.

Spending and job search impacts of expanded unemployment benefits: evidence from administrative micro data
A BFI working paper coauthored by Pascal Noel and Joseph S. Vavra suggests that benefit expansions during the pandemic were a more effective policy than predicted.

Firm-level risk exposures and stock returns in the wake of COVID-19
This BFI working paper coauthored by Steven J. Davis examines how firm-level stock returns differ in reaction to COVID-19 news.

Virtual Events

A Meeting of the Minds: Economics East and West
February 24 - Chicago | February 25 - Hong Kong
At this event from Booth and Stevanovich, Austan D. Goolsbee and Dali Yang will compare the economies of Asia and the US, including their responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

Annual Chicago Booth Healthcare Conference
February 25–26
This year's conference will explore, challenge, and reimagine approaches to innovation and investment across the healthcare ecosystem.