The debate over the economic costs of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has raged for months.
But a new study by the Upjohn Employment Research Institute in Kalamazoo suggests they're worth it. Co-author Brad Hershbein says business restrictions do cost jobs in the short-run.
But he says keeping economies open and allowing a high death toll is worse in the long term.
"Addressing the pandemic and reducing mortality, and taking the measures to do that, is the best thing that we can do to ensure a faster recovery for jobs."
Hershbein says the research found that states with fewer pandemic restrictions and higher corona virus death rates have been slower to recover economically.