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I would be very sceptical about any models produced in the US, since the issue is so partisan, and one can tweak variables to prove whatever outcome one wants from a model.

I think the lost life-years of economic hardship could easily outweigh the lost life-years of Covid deaths. That is because economic hardship affects younger people, while Covid deaths primarily affect people with not many years left to live. But there are many other external costs (social costs if your grandma dies) and economic benefits to deaths (lower pension payments, home availability?).

However, given current information, a lockdown for weeks to months seems to make sense, since the consensus is that economic collapse is not yet immanent, and that steps can be taken to help keep the economy spinning when lockdown restrictions start to be relaxed.



Economic hardship affects middle aged and old people too.




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