ISLAMABAD – The global economy could suffer between US $ 5.8 trillion and US $ 8.8 trillion in losses—equivalent to 6.4 percent to 9.7 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP)—as a result of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
A new report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday titled, “Updated Assessment of the Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19”, finds that economic losses in Asia and the Pacific could range from US $ 1.7 trillion under a short containment scenario of three months to US $ 2.5 trillion under a long containment scenario of six months, with the region accounting for about 30 per cent of the overall decline in global output.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could suffer losses between US $ 1.1 trillion and US $ 1.6 trillion. The new analysis updates findings presented in the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020 published on April 3, which estimated COVID-19’s global cost to range from US $ 2.0 trillion to US $ 4.1 trillion.
Governments around the world have been quick in responding to the impacts of the pandemic, implementing measures such as fiscal and monetary easing, increased health spending, and direct support to cover losses in incomes and revenues.
Sustained efforts from governments focused on these measures could soften COVID-19’s economic impact by as much as 30 to 40 percent, according to the report. This could reduce global economic losses due to the pandemic to between US $ 4.1 trillion and US $ 5.4 trillion.
The analysis, which uses a Global Trade Analysis Project-computable general equilibrium model, covers 96 COVID-19 affected economies with over four million cases.
In addition to shocks to tourism, consumption, investment, and trade and production linkages covered in the ADO 2020 estimates, the new report includes transmission channels such as the increase in trade costs affecting mobility, tourism, and other industries; supply-side disruptions that adversely affect output and investment; and government policy responses that mitigate the effects of COVID-19’s global economic impact.
“This new analysis presents a broad picture of the very significant potential economic impact of COVID-19,” said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada.
“It also highlights the important role policy interventions can play to help mitigate damage to economies. These findings can provide governments with a relevant policy guide as they develop and implement measures to contain and suppress the pandemic, and lessen its impacts on their economies and people.”
ADB’s COVID-19 Policy Database provides detailed information on the key economic measures that ADB members are taking to combat the pandemic.
Under the short and long containment scenarios, the report notes that border closures, travel restrictions, and lockdowns outbreak-affected economies implemented to arrest the spread of COVID-19 will likely cut global
trade by US $ 1.7 trillion to US $ 2.6 trillion.
Global employment decline will be between 158 million and 242 million jobs, with Asia and the Pacific comprising 70 per cent of total employment losses.
Labor income around the world will decline by US $ 1.2 trillion to US $ 1.8 trillion — 30 per cent of which will be felt by economies in the region, or between US $ 359 billion and US $ 550 billion.
