Professor Konstantin Sonin and Assistant Professor Austin Wright Argue for Stimulus Checks to Support Public Health

Harris Public Policy Professor Konstantin Sonin, Assistant Professor Austin Wright, and Visiting Professor Jesse Driscoll authored an Op-Ed featured in The Washington Post discussing whether stimulus checks incentivize people to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic and what this implies for policy decisions.

"Indeed, as counties received more stimulus funds, their residents were more willing to stay home," the authors write. "When they did head out, people in counties where most had received stimulus checks traveled less than people in counties where most checks had not yet arrived."

In addition, the authors state, "Our data suggests that coupling targeted federal relief with stay-at-home orders could bolster individual economic security — and that this has public health implications."

Full coverage is available at The Washington Post.