In the year since the COVID-19 outbreak was first diagnosed, it has spread to over 200 countries and all U.S. states. The pandemic has negatively affected global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. Estimates so far indicate the virus reduced global economic growth to an annualized rate of -4.5% to -6.0% in 2020, with a partial recovery of 2.5% to 5.2% projected for 2021.

Global trade is estimated to have fallen by 5.3% in 2020, but is projected to grow by 8.0% in 2021. The full economic impact of the pandemic likely will remain unclear until the negative health effects peak. This book provides an overview of the global and domestic economic costs to date and the response by governments and international institutions to address these effects.