Economic Policies and the Coronavirus Crisis in the UK

The focus of this article is the economic policies pursued in the UK in response to the coronavirus pandemic in the first twelve months of that crisis (February 2020 to January 2021). The measures of lockdown, quarantine, limitations on travel and so on are discussed as relevant to economic policies. The timeline of the policy responses to coronavirus, the evolution of the infections, and of economic activity is briefly outlined. The main fiscal policy responses in terms of development of policy programmes and the evolving budget deficit are considered, as are the policies of the Bank of England. There is a brief discussion of the financing and funding of public expenditure, and of post-pandemic budgetary policies. The failures of public procurement policies during the pandemic are reviewed, particularly in relation to the interface between public and private sectors. This is followed by consideration of aspects of inequalities and the coronavirus pandemic.