I’m an economist, I get your Cost Benefit Analysis. But I think you’re missing two factors: firstly the psychological cost a community where senicide occurs (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senicide).
Secondly, the fact that governments are not rational. This UK government is beginning to wake up to the fact that it will lose all public support in coming months and is making belated attempts to shore up some public support.
> This UK government is beginning to wake up to the fact that it will lose all public support in coming months and is making belated attempts to shore up some public support.
lose support over what exactly? are you foreseeing a scandal of some sorts?
There’s going to be huge criticism over mismanagement of the crisis. The criticism will be at two levels:
1. You didn’t act fast enough and lots of people died before their time.
2. When you did act, it was too late and that has ramped up the cost to the economy.
i was generally curios since some polls indicate growing satisfaction with the ruling Conservative party as well as the PM.
to me it seems that most of the world is in "flattening the curve" mode in order to alleviate stress on their health systems. as such this disease will run it's course and i don't think there will be a scandal in the UK as most countries will be either the same or worse-off. but an inquiry? definitely.
Secondly, the fact that governments are not rational. This UK government is beginning to wake up to the fact that it will lose all public support in coming months and is making belated attempts to shore up some public support.