Firms and labour markets in times of violence

Firms and labour markets in times of violence: Evidence from the Mexican Drug War For the last 13 years, Mexico has been home to a violent conflict known as the Mexican Drug War (Zedillo 2016).…

The declining effectiveness of lockdowns

A growing and diverse literature is emerging on the COVID-19 pandemic’s socioeconomic effects and the efficacy of alternative mitigating policies. A series of empirical studies have provided preliminary findings on the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions…

External sovereign debt restructurings: Delay and replay

Clemens Graf von Luckner, Josefin Meyer, Carmen Reinhart, Christoph Trebesch 30 March 2021 During the global COVID-19 crisis, fiscal deficits have widened, and government debts have spiked in advanced and developing economies almost across the…

Unstuffing banks with Fed deposits: Why and how

The Fed has unintentionally picked a fight with top US bankers, but it can stop.  Its ongoing balance-sheet expansion has stuffed banks with $3.9 trillion in Fed deposits. The Fed sees the deposits as the means…

Aiming for zero Covid-19 to ensure economic growth

Eliminating Covid-19 is the cheapest path towards economic recovery. The trade-off between health and wealth has been refuted by countries that have opted for an elimination strategy. Successful pandemic management – minimising cases and fatalities…

How to craft your ideal work life and…

Reflect on your motivations and what you're looking for out of your career. Explain to your boss why working from home benefits you and the organization.  Pitch it as an experiment and be prepared to…