This depends on which is worse for productivity: unemployment or furlough. I think in some cases furlough is worse for productivity as workers that could be wor

This depends on which is worse for productivity: unemployment or furlough. I think in some cases furlough is worse for productivity as workers that could be working for another employer and have in-demand skills are sitting idle. In a free-market devoid of minimum wages and government packages, wages would be going down massively but fewer people would be doing nothing.