A series of materials covering the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on the South Asian economy and the international labour
market, including an overview of the opportunities for companies to develop in
a postcrisis world on the basis of AI technologies, has been published on the ROSCONGRESS.ORG Information and
Analytical System.
The overview of the World Bank’s South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2020 report notes that, as a
result of the crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the region could
suffer its sharpest economic downturn in 40 years. The study also claims that
the crisis could pose a threat to food security and further entrench social
inequality. The harsh reality facing South Asian countries is that poorer
people are more likely to be infected with coronavirus, as it is harder for
them to maintain social distancing. They also have reduced access to medical
services and even personal hygiene provisions.
An overview of a study
conducted by the Boston Consulting Group’s BCG Henderson Institute on ‘The Rise of the AI-Powered Company in the
Postcrisis World’ focuses on the impact of the crisis on the digital transition of
companies. The researchers concluded that the economic downturn will provide a
new impetus for the development of AI technologies. Shifts in global supply
chains, changes to consumer behaviour patterns, and the spread of remote
working are all trends which arose long before the COVID-19 crisis, and will
only intensify in its aftermath.
Finally, the ILO Monitor publishes regular
assessments of the labour market. The study claims that as
of April, 81% of the global workforce has been affected by full or partial
closures, representing 3.3 million people. The authors of the report have
stressed the need for direct support to the most affected economic sectors and
population groups, especially in countries with high levels of informal
employment.
The full texts of the reports can be found in the ‘Analytics’ section of the website, as well as on the Anticrisis Plan: Global Best Practices portal, which was created by the Roscongress
Foundation as a response to the current challenges posed by the COVID-19
crisis.
