Economic activity contracted in 90 per cent of the world’s countries in 2020. This exceeded the proportion hit by the two world wars, the Great Depression and the global financial crisis. A pandemic, we now know, is a comprehensive disaster. It also bequeaths ill health and social and economic disruption. Among the most long-lasting legacies could be financial ones, especially in emerging and developing countries. The spectre of a lost decade looms for vulnerable nations. Determined action will be needed to prevent this. (See charts.)
2020年,全球90%的國家的經濟活動都出現了萎縮。這個比例超過了兩次世界大戰、經濟大蕭條(Great Depression)和全球金融危機的時候。我們現在知道大流行病是一場全面的災難,它還會留下民衆整體健康狀況不佳以及社會和經濟混亂等後遺症。其中最持久的後遺症可能是經濟上的,特別是在新興和發展中國家。「失去的十年」這個幽靈正逼近脆弱的國家。我們需要採取堅決的行動來防止這種情況發生。(見圖表)。