Global recession is almost surely one of the consequences of COVID-19, as households and businesses and government curtail economic activity, trying to slow the spread of the virus. At the same time, governments and central banks are making unprecedented interventions, attempting to soften the blow. Will they be successful? Are lessons learned in the last economic downturn relevant to today?

To discuss these issues, USSC hosted a webinar event featuring United States Studies Centre CEO Professor Simon Jackman in conversation with Non-Resident Fellow David Uren who is the author of the research brief Twice the size in a fraction of the time: Government responses to the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 published by USSC.

Non-Resident Fellow David Uren is one of Australia’s leading economic writers. He was the Economics Editor for The Australian from 2013 to 2018 and led that newspaper’s federal economic coverage for 15 years. He is author of several books, including his co-authored book with Lenore Taylor, Shitstorm, which examined the Rudd government’s management of the Global Financial Crisis.