20/2020 Roberto Pancrazi

Understanding and predicting the evolution of outbreaks is crucial for policymakers, as they face the trade-off between limiting social interaction and avoiding a further spread of the disease. Currently the UK is in lockdown and it will likely last until the severity of infections is sufficiently reduced. The length of the restrictions in place clearly has implications on total government budget, businesses' ability to stay afloat, consumer sentiment, etc. In addition, social restrictions tend to make the evolution of the epidemic location specific; therefore, some areas might be able to come out of lockdown before others. Hence, a key question for policymakers is when and where the epidemic will sufficiently slow down.

Public Policy and Data