The Conversation: 'Don't sacrifice health for the economy', say Aussie experts

In recent weeks a growing chorus of Australian commentators has called for social distancing measures to be eased or radically curtailed.

Some have claimed the lives saved by the lockdowns are not worth the damage they are causing to the economy.

Others have claimed the case for easing is strengthened by the fact many of the hardest hit by Covid-19 are elderly or suffering from other conditions.

Some might expect economists, of all people, to endorse this calculus.

But as economists we categorically reject these views, and we believe they do not represent the majority of our profession.

We believe a callous indifference to life is morally objectionable, and that it would be a mistake to expect a premature loosening of restrictions to be beneficial to the economy and jobs, given the rapid rate of contagion.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

It is wishful thinking to believe we face a choice between a buoyant economy without social distancing and a deep recession with social distancing.

In a world with Covid-19, there are no good choices.

The best we can do is limit the spread of Covid-19 as much as practicable and rely on the strength of the government's balance sheet to cushion the impact on the workers and businesses hardest hit.

Our success to date is a direct result of the measures taken, but we cannot afford to be complacent.

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We recognise there are trade-offs on some margins, but we urge the government to work closely with public health experts to carefully determine at what time, in what ways, and in which sectors, to begin lifting restrictions.

There should be no doubt the cost of getting this wrong is very high.

Open Letter from Australian Economists

19 April, 2020 Dear Prime Minister and Members of the National Cabinet, The undersigned economists have witnessed and participated in the public debate about when to relax social-distancing measures in Australia. Some commentators have expressed the view there is a trade-off between the public health and economic aspects of the crisis. We, as economists, believe this is a false distinction. We cannot have a functioning economy unless we first comprehensively address the public health crisis. The measures put in place in Australia, at the border and within the states and territories, have reduced the number of new infections. This has put Australia in an enviable position compared to other countries, and we must not squander that success. We recognise the measures taken to date have come at a cost to economic activity and jobs, but believe these are far outweighed by the lives saved and the avoided economic damage due to an unmitigated contagion. We believe strong fiscal measures are a much better way to offset these economic costs than prematurely loosening restrictions. As has been foreshadowed in your public remarks, our borders will need to remain under tight control for an extended period. It is vital to keep social-distancing measures in place until the number of infections is very low, our testing capacity is expanded well beyond its already comparatively high level, and widespread contact tracing is available. A second-wave outbreak would be extremely damaging to the economy, in addition to involving tragic and unnecessary loss of life. Sincerely, Professor Alison Booth, Australian National University Professor Jeff Borland, University of Melbourne Professorial Research Fellow Lisa Cameron, Melbourne Institute, University of Melbourne Professor Efrem Castelnuovo, University of Melbourne Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, University of Sydney Assistant Professor Ashley Craig, University of Michigan Professor Chris Edmond, University of Melbourne Professor Nisvan Erkal, University of Melbourne Professor John Freebairn, University of Melbourne Professor Renée Fry-McKibbin, Australian National University Professor Joshua Gans, University of Toronto Professor Jacob Goeree, UNSW Business School Professor Quentin Grafton, Australian National University Professor Simon Grant, Australian National University Professor Pauline Grosjean, UNSW Business School Distinguished Professor Jane Hall, University of Technology Sydney Assistant Professor Steven Hamilton, George Washington University Professor Ian Harper, Melbourne Business School Professor Richard Holden, UNSW Business School Professor David Johnston, Monash University Professor Flavio Menezes, University of Queensland Professor Warwick McKibbin, Australian National University Assistant Professor Simon Mongey, University of Chicago Professor James Morley, University of Sydney Professor Joseph Mullins, University of Minnesota Professor Abigail Payne, Melbourne Institute, University of Melbourne Professor Bruce Preston, University of Melbourne Emeritus Professor Sue Richardson, Flinders University Professor Stefanie Schurer, University of Sydney Professor Kalvinder Shields, University of Melbourne Professor John Quiggin, University of Queensland Associate Professor Simon Quinn, Oxford University Economic Advisor James Vickery, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Professor Tom Wilkening, University of Melbourne Professor Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan Professor Yves Zenou, Monash University

Full list of signatories available on the economists' open letter website.

Steven Hamilton, Visiting Fellow, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Bruce Preston, Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne
Chris Edmond, Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne
Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW
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