Covid19 / A proposal for a return to work, starting with those aged 20/49
It's important to think already about what will come after the quarantine. Massimo Anelli, professor of Economics at the Department of Social and Political Sciences at Bocconi, together with colleagues from Italian and international universities, has elaborated a proposal for the transition phase to be implemented after the pandemic peak. "The economic system could start again from people in the 20-49 age group, which has a coronavirus mortality rate close to zero, allowing them to return to work on a voluntary basis and with a return that will take place in stages to avoid saturating hospitals again". Those who agree to return to work would be monitored by an app and tested frequently "and would be transferred to hotels that are not currently used to avoid contagion with the most at risk groups. For the discomfort and risks involved, participants would be incentivated with an automatic profit-sharing system or a tax benefit that clearly increases net wages," continues Anelli. With regard to schools, the professor explains that in the first phase "they would have to remain closed, while in a second phase it would be possible to reopen elementary and middle schools, but only with teachers under 49 years old". Returning to companies, and in particular regards which should open first, the proposal states that "we should start with the companies that are at the heart of the production chain, to avoid shortages in the supply of intermediate and final products. However, there should be a tax mechanism for distributing the profits of businesses that can reopen to businesses that remain closed".