The global economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused significant global economic and social disruption. We use global data on cases and deaths, and public health and economic policy responses to the pandemic, to illustrate the alternative past and potential future trajectories of the pandemic. Shocks to labor and sectoral productivity, consumption, government expenditure, and country and sector risk premia are used within a global multisectoral intertemporal general equilibrium model: G-Cubed, to assess the economic impacts of COVID-19 under those scenarios. We illustrate the vital role of public health responses in managing a pandemic and restoring confidence among economic agents. The role of global coordination amidst a pandemic is also highlighted. We also compare the GDP projections under the alternative scenarios with the actual GDP outcomes in 2020 and 2021. Despite the uncertainties regarding the health outcomes of COVID-19 and the health and economic policy responses to the pandemic, we demonstrate that the actual outcomes lie within those projected for the scenarios.