[sandoooo]

You'd have to work out the human cost linked to the cost of economic losses from lockdown, though. Unemployment increases death rate and shortens lifespan. I'd love to see somebody do this too, but it's a mountain of work.

Another factor to consider is that nobody knows the future. Let's say I invest $10m in a scheme that I expect to save 10 lives. Alas, the guy I gave the money to chose to spend it all in Vegas then jump off a tall building. If you look at outcomes alone I spent $10m for -1 lives. Does this mean I value lives at -$10m?

Applying this to coronavirus response, it is more likely that the fast-opening states have convinced themselves that the infection rate can be kept under control, and it will cost them less in terms of both lives and money to open sooner. Whether they're right or not is another matter entirely, but people lose their life savings betting on the stock market all the time.

[chrispeel]

> Applying this to coronavirus response, it is more likely that the fast-opening states have convinced themselves that the infection rate can be kept under control, and it will cost them less in terms of both lives and money to open sooner.

Yes, I agree. See https://www.npr.org/2020/04/06/828345390/pandemic-onomics-le...