The Gray Area with Sean Illing Is the cure worse than the disease?
Mar 26, 2020
Jason Furman, a Harvard economic policy professor and former chief economist for President Obama, discusses the economic ramifications of COVID-19 versus necessary public health measures. He questions if prioritizing economic recovery can happen alongside a raging virus. Meanwhile, Ruth Faden, a bioethics expert from Johns Hopkins, delves into the ethical implications of social distancing and the moral costs of pandemic responses, especially for vulnerable populations. Together, they explore the complex interplay between health, economy, and ethics in this unprecedented crisis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Virus vs. Economy
- To maximize GDP, focus on beating the virus.
- A functioning economy requires overcoming the virus.
Pandemic Economics
- A normally running economy amidst a raging pandemic is unsustainable.
- Overwhelmed hospitals and workplace closures would cause massive uncertainty.
Interdependence
- Global interdependence makes isolating the vulnerable impractical.
- Modern economies rely on interconnected services and supply chains.