Economists prove to be not keen on cuts after all | Torsten Bell

A new survey reveals they're opposed to a new bout of austerity to pay for the damage done by the coronavirus crisis

The government is going to borrow a lot this year - probably more 300bn, the highest since the Second World War. Pandemics are expensive, with tax revenues plummeting, health costs surging and government paying 80% of the wages of 8.7 million workers.

It's not surprising that people suspect we're in for a repeat of the austerity of the 2010s. After all, borrowing will be much higher than during the last financial crisis. Many worry that evil economists, caring only about the public finances, will browbeat politicians into spending cuts.