In the study of the coronavirus pandemic, why did economists adopt the SIR model from epidemiology?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Economists use a common model from the field of epidemiology, the Susceptible, Infected, and Recovered (SIR) model-which demonstrates how susceptible individuals may become infected and eventually recover-to consider economic applications. They identify the benefit of optimal targeted policies that lock down alternative groups. This optimal control problem estimates the tradeoff between lives lost and economic losses, finding significant benefits for targeted lockdowns. With this approach, economists provide a method to study the economic implications of the global spread of disease, important in a world that may experience additional pandemics.

In the Study of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Why Did Economists