I’m not an economist by any stretch of the the imagination, but couldn’t we have simply propped up the economy by paying everyone’s salaries while the world is on pause? No layoffs, everyone can continue to pay their mortgages and bills, buy groceries, etc. We give those with essential jobs hazard pay while we wait this thing out. When it’s safe to restart everyone goes back to work and the economy goes right back to where it was before the crisis. If everyone’s salaries are covered, including execs and CEOs, then there is no reason to pay anyone off. Why wouldn’t this work? I don’t see how giving cash to corporations who let go of workers does anything for the economy.
Money
Money