World News – UA – Nobel economists urge French Advent lockdown to ‘save Christmas’ – Borneo Post Online

If the plans of the French economists come to fruition, there could be no Christmas shopping on the Champs-Élysées – AFP Photo

Two Nobel Prize-winning economists on Saturday urged France to consider an Advent lockdown so family Christmas celebrations can take place with reduced risk of coronavirus transmission

Such a « clear, consistent and transparent » option would reduce the risk of infection for the most vulnerable people, including the elderly, wrote Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee in an editorial in the daily Le Monde

The married couple, who jointly won the Nobel Prize in 2019 for their work on poverty reduction, suggested « a national lockdown during the Advent period from December 1 to 20 »

Duflo and Banerjee suggested that their schedule would have a limited impact on schools and be less economically damaging than « the total cancellation of Christmas » – or a more severe lockdown later if the festivities end years triggered a wave of infections

If the plan comes to fruition, « people could be encouraged to do their Christmas shopping in November, » the couple said

With new daily cases rising sharply, the government could otherwise find itself forced to lock people down over the Christmas period or even « ban travel and family reunions, » they warned

France has responded to the rapid reappearance of Covid-19 hotspots by reimposing restrictions such as the previous closure of bars in 12 major cities, including the capital Paris

Even tougher measures in Marseille, with bars and restaurants closed, sparked protests from the hotel industry – AFP

Nobel Prize, Lockdown, Coronavirus, Abhijit Banerjee, Noël, France