The World Bank has published a new book on “Global Productivity: Trends, Drivers, and Policies”, edited by Alistair Dieppe, with a database covering 164 countries over 1980-2018. The book analyses the long-run trend in global productivity but covers also the potential effects of Covid-19.

A new working paper from Marta Giagheddu and Andrea Papetti illustrates the pros and cons of different combinations of economic shutdown and targeted social distancing with a special focus on the dimension of intergenerational contacts.

MIT economist Glenn Ellison surveys the epidemiological literature on an SIR extension incorporating heterogeneity in the activity rates of different subpopulations, and notes ways in which analyses based on classic SIR models can potentially yield misleading views. In a similar spirit, a new study by mathematics professor Tom Britton shows that population heterogeneity can significantly impact disease-induced immunity.

The Italian Society of Economists (SIE) invites to a webinar with Eleni Lioliou (Queen Mary University of London School of Business and Management) and Giovanni Cerulli (IRCrES-CNR - Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth) on Thursday, June 25 at 5 PM CEST.

You are invited to a CEPR / LSE IGA / SPP webinar, co-organised with SITE at Stockholm School of Economics, hosting a panel discussion with Karolina Ekholm, Jeremy Farrar, Bengt Holmström, Devi Sridhar and Erik Berglöf.

Exports are important for the Swedish economy. Measures to counteract the spread of the corona virus in the form of closed borders and strict restrictions have slowed global trade. What are the consequences of the corona pandemic for international trade and the global supply chains? How seriously are Swedish exports affected? And how do companies handle the challenge?