After the COVID crisis, a choice will have to be made between zombie firms and a Schumpeterian process
The COVID crisis will lead to a permanent deterioration in a number of business sectors (automotive, aeronautics, air transport, tourism, traditional retail, culture, office real estate). Countries will then have the choice between two strategies: Protecting jobs in these sectors, through credit and public aid, which will prevent job destruction but multiply the number of zombie firms; Accepting a Schumpeterian process and transferring jobs to growth sectors (IT services, online retail, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecom, security). Countries' ability to accept a Schumpeterian process depends on their ability to protect people (maintaining income, training and reskilling, etc.) and not only jobs.