Hello and welcome to the intelligence from the economist.

In New York, I'm John Fassman.

And in London, I'm Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Most countries close schools for at least a little while during the pandemic.

Some close them longer than others.

In recent models show that the damage from extended closures may be even worse than many feared.

And in plenty of industries, a green energy transition wouldn't be so hard.

In aviation, especially the long haul kind, it looks all but impossible.

So if you have to put hydrocarbons in the tank, why not ditch fossil fuels and get bacteria

to make them?

First up though.

Mario Draghi has for the second time in a week offered his resignation as Prime Minister of Italy.

He arrived at the Presidential Palace this morning.

Where he met in private with President Sergio Matarella to deliver his decision, already

announced in the lower house of Parliament.

Those parliamentarians gave him a lengthy round of applause.

Mr. Draghi is a popular figure in Italy, well-known steady hand who led the European Central

Bank through the Eurozone crisis.

In Parliament he said even central bankers have their hearts touched sometimes.

For Super Mario, as he's widely known, holding together Italy's national unity government,

an ideological jumble sale of left and right proved too much, and his second resignation

...