The Effects of the Coronavirus Crisis on the German Economy: First Results of a Survey Among Managers in April

The coronavirus crisis is keeping the German economy firmly in its grasp. It can be assumed that the spread of the pandemic and the associated countermeasures, such as lockdowns and the closure of stores, restaurants, hotels, and factories, will lead to a massive slump in economic development in Germany. Whether and to what extent the coronavirus pandemic and the associated restrictions on public life will affect their business activities was answered by 322 managers in an ifo special survey. This article presents the results. Another thematic focus of the survey was the managers’ assessments of the overall economy and how long the crisis will last.