Will the c-virus cause a recession? The economy will contract for sure even with counter cyclical measures and the provision of generous social insurance for working families and others reeling under the weight of this pandemic. But whether this contraction morphs into a full blown recession at the national and global level depends to a large extent on how effective national governments and international institutions are in simultaneously combating the pandemic and a contracting economy. Because our government — the most powerful and well endowed in the world — is led by an ignorant, dangerous, and America First narcissist and his team of dopes, it will make this difficult job all the more harder.