SIM Report: Western & Northern Europe, Issue 3

REGIONAL: Europe faces devastating economic impact from COVID-19 outbreak
For fragile European economies,
the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses serious risks that could leave
long-lasting consequences. In the last week, governments across the continent
have sought to respond by unveiling billions of euros in emergency funding and
additional support for businesses.
So
far, the economic impact has been particularly acute in northern Italy, the
epicentre of the outbreak in Europe, which has also emerged as a new vector for
transmission to countries within the EU and beyond. On 9 March, Italian Prime
Minister Giuseppe Conte announced nationwide travel restrictions, preventing
people from leaving their homes unless for work-related or health reasons in a
bid to contain an ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Public venues,
schools, and universities will remain closed from 10 March until 3 April. Indeed,
Italy has become increasingly isolated as it seeks to mobilise sufficient
resources to deal with overcrowded hospitals in the worst-hit northern
municipalities. Travel restrictions introduced on 8 March and extended on 9
March to cover the entire country have accentuated the disruption to economic
activity, particularly in prosperous northern regions, including Lombardy and
Veneto, where the majority of infections are concentrated. Sectors affected
include agriculture and manufacturing where on-site workers are essential.
Some countries have sought to
shelter their populations from COVID-19 by introducing controls at borders or
shutting them altogether. On 12 March, the Czech Republic shut its borders to
travellers from 15 countries, including France, Germany, and the UK, while
Slovakia announced the closure of borders for all foreign visitors, except Polish
nationals. Beyond severely restricting cross-border travel, the closures will
also harm companies with integrated supply chains in the region.
Anticipating the economic blow
COVID-19 will bring, governments have sought to proactively respond to the
outbreak. For instance, on 11 March, the Bank of England (BoE) announced an
emergency decrease in interest rates from 0.75 per cent to 0.25 per cent to
soften the economic blow of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The
BoE also said it would make available billions of pounds to help banks support
struggling businesses. On 9 March, UNCTAD – the United Nations trade and
development agency – said the COVID-19 epidemic will cost the global economy
USD1 trillion in 2020. The impact on the Europe’s economic performance will be
reflected in GDP growth forecast estimates.
Industries that will be
disproportionally affected include car manufacturing, luxury goods markets, and
the tourism sector. Consumer spending patterns will resemble those in China at
the height of the outbreak there, where increasingly health-conscious buyers
shifted their spending towards medicines and personal hygiene products. Conversely,
uncertainty over how long the COVID-19 outbreak will last means that the travel
and aviation industries will experience long-term impact. According to industry
body the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the international business
travel market will lose an estimated USD820 billion due to COVID-19.
The economic impact of COVID-19
in Europe will largely depend on whether the number of cases grows
exponentially. There is growing recognition among EU leaders that infections
will continue to increase before cases plateau and eventually decrease.
Businesses should assess the exposure their assets and staff have to the
pandemic. Contingency plans should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect
the latest advice and updates from relevant governments.
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