The Economist on the Global Shutdown

In Europe, and around the world, governments are getting tougher

https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/03/19/in-europe-and-around-the-world-governments-are-getting-tougher

Governments are spending big to keep the world economy from getting dangerously sick

https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/03/19/governments-are-spending-big-to-keep-the-world-economy-from-getting-dangerously-sick

A Great Cover:

First Clear Indication that the Recession Has Started

The first sign of a recession underway:

The Staggering Rise in Jobless Claims This Week

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/19/upshot/coronavirus-jobless-claims-states.html

Coronavirus Layoff Surge Overwhelms Unemployment Offices

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/business/coronavirus-unemployment-states.html

U.S. Jobless Claims Could Exceed 2 Million, Goldman Says

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/u-s-weekly-jobless-claims-could-exceed-2-million-goldman-says

Trump Administration Asks States to Keep Quiet About Jobless Figures

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-ask-states-to-keep-quiet-about-jobless-figures-11584676698

Policy Measures and the Recovery from a Severe Economic Shock

The Great Coronavirus Crash of 2020 Is Different

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-19/the-great-coronavirus-crash-of-2020-is-different 

Economies can rebound quickly from massive GDP slumps—but not always

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2020/03/18/economies-can-rebound-quickly-from-massive-gdp-slumps-but-not-always

Here’s Hoping the MMT Crowd Is Correct

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-18/here-s-hoping-the-mmt-crowd-is-correct

Trump’s $1 trillion stimulus is a sea change for Republicans
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-economic-stimulus-reelection-bailout/2020/03/18/280a1a12-6947-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html

Fed takes 7th emergency action this week

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/18/federal-reserve-announces-it-will-backstop-us-money-market-industry-its-7th-major-emergency-action-this-week/

Visual Imagery - World Under the Grip of the Coronavirus

Photos: The Quiet Emptiness of a World Under Coronavirus

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2020/03/photos-quiet-emptiness-under-coronavirus/608272/ 

Bear Markets and Recessions

Does a Recession Always Follow a Bear Market? Usually

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/18/business/coronavirus-stock-market-recessions.html

Related:
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-stock-market-recover-dow-industrial-decline/

Coronavirus Shock - Policy Implications

The Limits of Monetary Policy

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/coronavirus-fed-rate-cut-ineffective-by-willem-h-buiter-1-2020-03

Economist Willem Buiter notes:

“The US Federal Reserve's surprise weekend announcement of a large interest-rate cut, renewed quantitative easing, and other expansionary measures is a welcome response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as markets were quick to note, monetary policy cannot save us from this crisis.”

Fiscal Stimulus takes Centerstage

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-17/mnuchin-says-trump-wants-money-sent-to-americans-in-two-weeks

The Return of Big Government

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-17/coronavirus-will-revive-an-all-powerful-state

Much maligned in recent years, big government will come back—and with it, the potential for both greater good and evil. 

The Price Gouging Debate

Keep Sanitizer Out of the Market's Invisible Hand

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-16/coronavirus-emergency-why-price-gouging-for-sanitizer-is-wrong

Price-Gouging Laws Will Do More Harm Than Good During the Coronavirus Pandemic

https://reason.com/2020/03/16/price-gouging-laws-will-do-more-harm-than-good-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Related:

https://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2017/Davisgouging.html

A Poll of Economists on Price Gouging

https://www.econlib.org/archives/2017/09/a_poll_of_econo.html