Advanced economies have already spent enormous amounts providing pandemic relief to households and small- and medium-size businesses. The International Monetary Fund’s June outlook estimates that, including fiscal measures and credit guarantees, spending reached approximately 20 percentage points of GDP. In the United States, Congress is considering new spending ranging from 5 percent of GDP (Republicans) to 15 percent (Democrats). And still more government spending, and thus borrowing, will be needed by the time the pandemic is behind us.
How long should governments spend away?
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