Coronavirus Widens Europe’s North-South Economic Divide

Most nations of Europe’s north are set to recover faster from their medically induced economic comas than those in the south, exacerbating a divergence of fortunes in the eurozone and feeding political tensions over how to pay for the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the north, Germany has a lighter lockdown, more fiscal firepower, and entered the pandemic in better economic shape. In the south, Italy has a worse health crisis, a deeper economic standstill and high debts that deter aggressive stimulus.

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