If you build bailouts, they may not come – ZAWYA

If you build bailouts, they may not come – ZAWYA

If you build bailouts, they may not come | ZAWYA MENA Edition HomeEconomyArticleIf you build bailouts, they may not come U.S. bailouts have precedent, but none at the current scale    The Federal Reserve building is set against a blue sky, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Washington, U.S., May 1, 2020. (The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.)SAN FRANCISCO  - Throwing money at a problem doesn't mean people will take it. The U.S. government has allocated some $3.5 trillion to stem the pandemic-induced economic crisis. Unlike the 2008 slump, a big portion is aimed at helping Main Street. But complex and changing terms make it difficult for mom-and-pop businesses to take advantage of the help, while sophisticated firms can navigate the system.U.S. bailouts have precedent, but none at the current scale. In 2008, nearly 10 million people lost their homes and unemployment hit a peak of 10%. But financial firms, including Citigroup and AIG, got the bulk of government aid. They had an army of lawyers and other advisers to help them haggle over complicated terms.SAN FRANCISCO  - Throwing money at a problem doesn't mean people will take it. The U.S. government