In their quest to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect health services from overcrowding, governments in many countries introduced severe social distancing measures at the start of the pandemic that led to the closure of schools, many businesses and entire sectors of the economy. The economic lockdown had immediate and dramatic consequences for key domains of life, including what individuals and families could do with their time, their ability to work and earn, the services and goods that they could consume and their health. The crisis that ensued also exposed existing vulnerabilities, especially among the young, the least skilled and the poor. New policies were hastily designed and introduced to add further layers of insurance and protect the jobs and livelihoods of those most affected by the lockdown. As we now move into the second wave of this crisis, it is critical that we learn from the recent events and reflect on the challenges ahead. This is essential to inform the effective design and targeting of new public interventions aimed at continuing to protect families and businesses while helping to rebuild the economy. The current issue of Fiscal Studies aims to contribute to this academic and public debate. In a joint venture with the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities, it collects invited contributions from some of those who have been studying the development of this crisis, its consequences for the well-being of individuals

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COVID-19 经济危机

为了减缓 COVID-19 的传播并保护卫生服务免于人满为患，许多国家的政府在大流行开始时采取了严格的社会疏远措施，导致学校、许多企业和整个经济部门关闭. 经济封锁对生活的关键领域产生了直接和戏剧性的影响，包括个人和家庭可以利用他们的时间做什么、他们的工作和赚钱能力、他们可以消费的服务和商品以及他们的健康。随之而来的危机也暴露了现有的脆弱性，尤其是在年轻人、最缺乏技能的人和穷人中。匆忙设计并推出了新政策，以增加更多的保险层，并保护受封锁影响最大的人的工作和生计。随着我们现在进入这场危机的第二波，我们必须从最近的事件中吸取教训并反思未来的挑战。这对于有效设计和定位新的公共干预措施至关重要，这些干预措施旨在继续保护家庭和企业，同时帮助重建经济。本期《财政研究》旨在为这一学术和公共辩论做出贡献。在与 IFS 迪顿不平等审查的合资企业中，它收集了一些一直在研究这场危机的发展及其对个人福祉的后果的人的邀请贡献 这对于有效设计和定位新的公共干预措施至关重要，这些干预措施旨在在帮助重建经济的同时继续保护家庭和企业。本期《财政研究》旨在为这一学术和公共辩论做出贡献。在与 IFS 迪顿不平等审查的合资企业中，它收集了一些一直在研究这场危机的发展及其对个人福祉的后果的人的邀请贡献 这对于有效设计和定位新的公共干预措施至关重要，这些干预措施旨在在帮助重建经济的同时继续保护家庭和企业。本期《财政研究》旨在为这一学术和公共辩论做出贡献。在与 IFS 迪顿不平等审查的合资企业中，它收集了一些一直在研究这场危机的发展及其对个人福祉的后果的人的邀请贡献