F-22Raptor
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2014
- Messages
- 16,980
- Reaction score
- 3
- Country
- Location
With China reporting record numbers of Covid-19 cases, more than a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is now under lockdown – on par with the economic impact of Shanghai’s shutdown in April, according to a new report.
The renewed virus curbs have once again put the spotlight on the delicate balance Beijing is trying to strike between easing its zero-Covid policy to help the economy and reining in new outbreaks across the country.
Some 21.1 per cent of China’s total GDP is now under lockdown, up from 9.5 per cent a month ago, according to a Nomura report published on Thursday.
Covid-19 cases surged to 31,444 on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of 29,317 in mid-April, when Shanghai was under a citywide lockdown.
Authorities in megacities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing have all recently tightened restrictions.
The Nomura report estimated that more than 30 per cent of the country’s GDP will be under lockdown within the next couple of weeks, while sequential economic growth in the fourth quarter will plummet into negative territory as a result.
Surging Covid-19 cases and the government’s unwavering commitment to its zero-Covid strategy have dashed hopes of a fast reopening.
“As local officials step up mass testing and implement frequent partial lockdowns to stamp out the virus, there has been a broad-based deterioration in mobility and business indicators so far in [the fourth quarter],” Nomura said.
“The contraction in most indicators was even worse than in [the second quarter], when Shanghai and a couple of other cities were under blanket citywide lockdowns.”
Earlier this month, Beijing released 20 measuresto boost market confidence, including easing rules on inbound travel, while urging local authorities to restrain the use of lockdowns.
Subsequent announcements to help cross-provincial travel, as well as concerts and entertainment activities, also elevated the mood in the country.
But some say the road to reopening appears to have been taken a step backwards.
“‘20 Measures’ is the inflection point of the zero-Covid policy, for sure, but ‘two steps forward and one step back’ will be the new norm in the months ahead,” Macquarie economists Larry Hu and Zhang Yuxiao said in a report published on Tuesday.
“China might have already passed the point of no return, as it’s unlikely to achieve zero-Covid again without another Shanghai-style hard lockdown.
“What policymakers could do now is to slow the spread of the virus – i.e. flatten the curve – by tightening the Covid controls for the time being.”
The Macquarie economists said that while they expect the economic impact to be less severe than what resulted from the national outbreaks in April and May, the toll will still be heavy. Domestic flights, subway trips, box office receipts and floor space sold are all showing declines.
One of the biggest challenges in the relaxation of the zero-Covid policy is the narrative, as authorities have invested significant political capital in the campaign, the economists said.
Also this week, the International Monetary Fund called for a “recalibration” of China’s zero-Covid strategy to bring the world’s second-largest economy back on track.
amp.scmp.com
The renewed virus curbs have once again put the spotlight on the delicate balance Beijing is trying to strike between easing its zero-Covid policy to help the economy and reining in new outbreaks across the country.
Some 21.1 per cent of China’s total GDP is now under lockdown, up from 9.5 per cent a month ago, according to a Nomura report published on Thursday.
Covid-19 cases surged to 31,444 on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of 29,317 in mid-April, when Shanghai was under a citywide lockdown.
Authorities in megacities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing have all recently tightened restrictions.
The Nomura report estimated that more than 30 per cent of the country’s GDP will be under lockdown within the next couple of weeks, while sequential economic growth in the fourth quarter will plummet into negative territory as a result.
Surging Covid-19 cases and the government’s unwavering commitment to its zero-Covid strategy have dashed hopes of a fast reopening.
“As local officials step up mass testing and implement frequent partial lockdowns to stamp out the virus, there has been a broad-based deterioration in mobility and business indicators so far in [the fourth quarter],” Nomura said.
“The contraction in most indicators was even worse than in [the second quarter], when Shanghai and a couple of other cities were under blanket citywide lockdowns.”
Earlier this month, Beijing released 20 measuresto boost market confidence, including easing rules on inbound travel, while urging local authorities to restrain the use of lockdowns.
Subsequent announcements to help cross-provincial travel, as well as concerts and entertainment activities, also elevated the mood in the country.
But some say the road to reopening appears to have been taken a step backwards.
“‘20 Measures’ is the inflection point of the zero-Covid policy, for sure, but ‘two steps forward and one step back’ will be the new norm in the months ahead,” Macquarie economists Larry Hu and Zhang Yuxiao said in a report published on Tuesday.
“China might have already passed the point of no return, as it’s unlikely to achieve zero-Covid again without another Shanghai-style hard lockdown.
“What policymakers could do now is to slow the spread of the virus – i.e. flatten the curve – by tightening the Covid controls for the time being.”
The Macquarie economists said that while they expect the economic impact to be less severe than what resulted from the national outbreaks in April and May, the toll will still be heavy. Domestic flights, subway trips, box office receipts and floor space sold are all showing declines.
One of the biggest challenges in the relaxation of the zero-Covid policy is the narrative, as authorities have invested significant political capital in the campaign, the economists said.
Also this week, the International Monetary Fund called for a “recalibration” of China’s zero-Covid strategy to bring the world’s second-largest economy back on track.
With one-fifth of GDP under lockdown, has China ‘passed the point of no return’?
As daily Covid-19 cases reached a record high on Wednesday, the economic impact appears comparable to when Shanghai endured a citywide lockdown in the spring, dashing hopes of a fast reopening.
amp.scmp.com
