Interesting also re role of science in policy. The UK modelling example shows the difficulty of using normative assumptions for empirical analysis. Lockdown not seen as politically possible, so not factored in. Boundary between politics and science blurred as ever. /1 https://twitter.com/scottlgreer/status/1247777862888779776

Anyone else noting that economists are remarkably quiet these days? In the UK I mean (v different elsewhere). Has currency of cost effectiveness and "doing more with less" lost in value in a crisis? I am sure it will recover. /2