Coronavirus

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threatens to plunge the global economy into a recession or worse. PIIE scholars assess the economic outlook, possible approaches to reverse the downturn, and the factors—including trade protection—that have worsened the situation.

Featured Content

Cooperating on a COVID-19 vaccine is in everyone’s interest
Short Videos

Cooperating on a COVID-19 vaccine is in everyone’s interest

Featuring Chad P. Bown (PIIE)
July 27, 2020
People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at an Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020.
EUTERS/Nick Oxford
Policy Brief

US unemployment insurance in the pandemic and beyond

Jason Furman (PIIE)
July 2020
A waiter wearing a face mask waits for customers at La Mere Catherine, Place du Tertre at Montmartre in Paris as restaurants and cafes reopen following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in. France, June 2, 2020
REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Policy Brief

A new policy toolkit is needed as countries exit COVID-19 lockdowns

Olivier Blanchard (PIIE), Thomas Philippon (Stern School of Business, New York University) and Jean Pisani-Ferry (PIIE)
June 2020
The US has outspent France on job retention and other support for SMEs but had less success
PIIE Chart

The US has outspent France on job retention and other support for SMEs but had less success

Jérémie Cohen-Setton (PIIE) and Jean Pisani-Ferry (PIIE)
June 25, 2020
A customer picks up an item at the grocery store, separated from cashiers by sheets of plexiglass installed as a precautionary measure, during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., March 28, 2020.
REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Policy Brief

When more delivers less: Comparing the US and French COVID-19 crisis responses

Jérémie Cohen-Setton (PIIE) and Jean Pisani-Ferry (PIIE)
June 2020
Workers at a manufacturer for sportswear for U.S. colleges, are seen at the factory, in El Salvador, August 9, 2017. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas
REUTERS/Jose Cabezas
Trade and Investment Policy Watch

Yes, medical gear depends on global supply chains. Here's how to keep them moving.

Anabel González (PIIE)
March 27, 2020
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin arrives for a meeting in the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Washington, U.S.
REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

Getting COVID-19 financial relief to millions of Americans in need requires a multichannel strategy

Donald Hammond (formerly at US Treasury Department) and David Wilcox (PIIE)
March 25, 2020
People walk past the window of a medical equipment supply store advertising the sale of protective masks in south London, Britain.
REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Trade and Investment Policy Watch

A memo to trade ministers on how trade policy can help fight COVID-19

Anabel González (PIIE)
March 23, 2020

Recent Content

PIIE Chart

2020 was a painful year for the US labor market

Jason Furman (PIIE) and Wilson Powell III (Harvard Kennedy School)

January 11, 2021
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

Progress on US jobs reverses in December as labor market remains in bad shape

Jason Furman (PIIE) and Wilson Powell III (Harvard Kennedy School)

January 8, 2021
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

PIIE's most read content in 2020

Anjali Bhatt (PIIE)

December 23, 2020
Past Event

Zombie banking, zombie borrowing: Japanese lessons for the COVID-19 era

Nicolas Véron (PIIE), Hoshi Takeo (University of Tokyo) and Takeshi Tashiro (PIIE)

December 22, 2020
Policy Brief

China's Financial Opening Accelerates

Nicholas R. Lardy (PIIE) and Tianlei Huang (PIIE)

December 2020
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

Memo to the UN Economic Commission for Africa on the continent's health and economic crisis

Adnan Mazarei (PIIE)

December 17, 2020
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

Memo to the Inter-American Development Bank on Latin America's health, economic, and political challenges

Monica de Bolle (PIIE)

December 17, 2020
PIIE Chart

Female labor force participation has been more resilient during the pandemic in the UK than in the US

Simeon Djankov (PIIE) and Eva (Yiwen) Zhang (PIIE)

December 15, 2020
RealTime Economic Issues Watch

COVID-19 widens gender gap in labor force participation in some but not other advanced economies

Simeon Djankov (PIIE) and Eva (Yiwen) Zhang (PIIE)

December 15, 2020
Past Event

Monetary Policy and Inequality: COVID-19 and Beyond

D. Filiz Unsal (International Monetary Fund), Olivier Blanchard (PIIE), Markus K. Brunnermeier (PIIE), Adam S. Posen (PIIE) and Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Monetary Authority of Singapore)

December 14, 2020