# Lord Mervyn King warns against viewing the coming economic downturn in the U.K. like a conventional recession or depression, noting that the government is deliberately pressing down on economic activity to deal with the coronavirus crisis

1 Faculty News March 25, 2020 ![Reuters logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_030503.jpg?itok=0OAgrDF0)>

Excerpt from [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-economy-pmi/coronavirus-hits-uk-economy-with-unprecedented-force-idUSKBN21B14A) -- "Former Bank of England Governor [Mervyn King](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/mervyn-king) said on Monday that the economic challenge facing Britain was tougher than during the 2008-09 financial crisis and that public borrowing was likely to rise significantly. But he warned against viewing the coming economic downturn like a conventional recession or depression. 'In order to deal with a health crisis, the government is deliberately pressing down on economic activity ... and at some point there will be a rebound,' King said."

[Read More](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-economy-pmi/coronavirus-hits-uk-economy-with-unprecedented-force-idUSKBN21B14A)