Apr 6, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus stimulus spending is more similar to WWII than the Great Recession

Mike Allen, author of AM

Everyone needs to change their mental model of the scope of the coronavirus rescue package, Hamilton Place Strategies partner Matt McDonald tells Axios.

The state of play: Federal spending as a share of GDP this year is already closer to World War II levels than it is to the financial crisis, and that is only going to increase.

Sources: JPMorgan, CBO. Graphic: Hamilton Place Strategies

Why it matters: This event will result in big societal changes, big policy changes, and big political changes, Matt says.

  • We're going to see reflection, investigation, accountability and reform. 
  • The changes to come will be commensurate with the size of the event. For example, WWII resulted in the establishment of the Defense Department.

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Axios
Updated 38 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10 a.m. ET: 19,412,292 — Total deaths: 722,066 — Total recoveries — 11,773,112 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10 a.m. ET: 4,945,795 — Total deaths: 161,456 — Total recoveries: 1,623,870 — Total tests: 60,415,558 — Map.
  3. Politics: Trump says he's prepared to sign executive orders on coronavirus aid.
  4. Public health: Fauci says chances are "not great" that COVID-19 vaccine will be 98% effective
  5. Science: Indoor air is the next coronavirus frontline.
  6. World: Africa records over 1 million coronavirus cases — Gates Foundation puts $150 million behind coronavirus vaccine production.
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