A new coronavirus is sweeping the globe, and, as one of its by-products, deadly air pollution in many places is lifting. Consider the case of Chile. On March 3, Chile announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19. On March 18, it declared a state of catastrophe, and by March 25, the number of confirmed cases in the country had surpassed 1,000, with nearly 60% of the cases … [Read more...] about Coronavirus Restrictions Lead to Improvement in Air Quality
Social Issues
Fiscal Policy in the Time of Coronavirus: Constraints and Policy Options for Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Latin America and the Caribbean is suffering a heavy blow as the novel coronavirus is spreading, governments are sending people home, and only a few businesses are allowed to operate. This happens against a grim backdrop of financial fragility, and a flight to quality assets in developed countries, with the resulting doubling of credit spreads in emerging markets since January … [Read more...] about Fiscal Policy in the Time of Coronavirus: Constraints and Policy Options for Latin American and Caribbean Countries
The Spread of the Novel Coronavirus outside China
On December 31, 2019, China reported to the WHO several cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan, Hubei province. A week later, on January 7, officials determined that these cases were caused by a novel coronavirus. The virus spread very rapidly, first within Wuhan and Hubei province, then to the rest of China. By the end of January, China already had nearly 10,000 … [Read more...] about The Spread of the Novel Coronavirus outside China
A Sharing Economy for Mechanical Ventilators
From Wuhan to Italy, one of the most serious problems associated with COVID-19 has been the lack of intensive care units (ICUs), mechanical ventilators, and staff trained to operate them. In both cases (and notwithstanding China’s astonishing expansion of hospital capacity), many of the deaths could have been prevented with more ICUs and more ventilators. In the absence of … [Read more...] about A Sharing Economy for Mechanical Ventilators
In the Fight Against the Coronavirus, Behavioral Economics is a Potent Weapon
With thousands of deaths worldwide, the coronavirus has spread panic in nearly all countries and territories where it has hit. People fear not only infection and death, but upheavals to their daily lives, rituals, and traditions. Everything from earning an income to having a normal family life or even putting food on the table has been put into doubt. And doubt tends to build … [Read more...] about In the Fight Against the Coronavirus, Behavioral Economics is a Potent Weapon