Editor’s Picks: March 23rd 2020

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, the <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/03/19/paying-to-stop-the-pandemic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">covid-19 pandemic</a> is shutting planet earth down (10:55) <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2020/03/21/why-americas-financial-plumbing-has-seized-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">America’s financial plumbing</a> has seized up (19:30) and the show must go on for <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/03/21/the-closure-of-londons-theatres" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">London’s theatres</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/radiooffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/radiooffer</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Read The Economist’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/2020/03/11/the-economists-coverage-of-the-coronavirus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">full coverage</a> of the coronavirus</p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>