Covid-19 Coronavirus and Macroeconomic Policy

• Authors: Luca Fornaro.
• BSE Working Paper: 110641 | April 20
• Keywords: COVID-19
• COVID-19

As we write, the Covid-19 coronavirus is spreading throughout the globe. Besides its impact on public health, this coronavirus outbreak is likely to have significant economic consequences. The consensus is that the virus will cause a negative supply shock to the world economy, by forcing factories to shut down and disrupting global supply chains (OECD, 2020). But how deep and persistent is this supply disruption going to be? Will aggregate demand be affected? What is the appropriate monetary policy response? What about fiscal policy? These questions are currently at the center of a heated debate.