Laurence Kotlikoff Laurence Kotlikoff.

The near-nationwide lockdown intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 has created "a perfect macroeconomic storm" that's put the U.S. on track for a depression worse even than the Great Depression — it is therefore "idiotic exuberance" to invest in the market now, argues Boston University economics professor Laurence Kotlikoff in an interview with BenefitsPRO's sister site ThinkAdvisor.

Kotlikoff, who in 2014 was named by The Economist one of the world's 25 most influential economists, floats a plan for reopening the U.S. economy: a nationalized household testing program run by the states. He is working with a Cornell University professor on a testing model.

Director of the Fiscal Analysis Center, Kotlikoff served on President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisors and as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the U.S. Education Department and the U.S. Labor Department, among other organizations and governments.

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Jane Wollman Rusoff

Jane Wollman Rusoff is a ThinkAdvisor contributing editor specializing in interviews with thought leaders. She has written for ThinkAdvisor since its inception and was a contributing editor to Research magazine, a predecessor to ThinkAdvisor, starting in 1992.

Jane has received two AZBEE Awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. She has contributed articles to The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and Esquire, among numerous other publications.

Jane has written or co-authored five books, including three written with “Tonight” show creator Steve Allen. Jane was a staff editor with London Express Features and Billboard’s Merchandising Magazine. She has interviewed and profiled thousands of entertainment personalities, including Ray Charles, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep.

Jane is the founder of www.FamilyStarProductions.com.