Socio-Economic Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Asia: Emerging Risks and Growing Challenges

Abstract

The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has threatened human lives, disrupted livelihoods, and affected trade, economy and businesses across the globe. The global economy has begun to show major disruptions and is heading toward a severe recession with an unprecedented economic crisis. As the global economy is highly integrated and interdependent through the global supply chains, it has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although all countries have faced difficulties due to Covid-19, South Asian countries in particular have had to deal with a more challenging situation due to their large population, weak health facilities, high poverty rates, low socio-economic conditions, poor social protection systems, limited access to water and sanitation, and inadequate living space, necessary to maintain physical distancing and take other required measures to contain this pandemic. To contain the spread of the virus, South Asian countries have imposed stringent lockdowns, which have consequently affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the region, where a third of world’s poor live. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the existing and prospective impacts, risks and challenges of Covid-19 on key social and economic sectors including migration, tourism, informal sector, agriculture and rural livelihoods. The analysis revealed that COVID-19 is likely to affect economic growth, increase fiscal deficit and monetary burden, increase the risks of macroeconomic instability, decrease migration and remittance, reduce income from travel and tourism, and result in dwindling micro-small and medium industries and informal businesses. This is likely to deepen poverty and increase unemployment and the risks of hunger and food insecurity. If not addressed properly, this may reinforce existing inequalities, break social harmony, and increase tension and turbulence. The economic and social costs of the COVID-19 outbreak are therefore likely to be significant and long-lasting in South Asia.

Awareness and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines among Pharmacy Students in Zambia: The Implications for Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

“…The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was rst reported in late 2019 in Wuhan City, China (1,2). Subsequently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 (3)(4)(5) and spread rapidly across the globe bringing appreciable socioeconomic disruption alongside increased morbidity and mortality (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review

“…The pandemic has also created additional demand for internet-based activities, such as online shopping, distance education, online doctors, services, and home office. Therefore, measures that facilitate the work adaptation to those job opportunities are necessary for the new reality [92].…”

“…New practices for food safety and social responsibility [16] Guidelines against price gouging [109] Guarantee the supplementation of food in distribution centers [136] Strong, focused country leadership [89] Food price monitoring schemes [75,78,84,109] Multiple sourcing [131] Government financial assistance for companies Government food prices surveillance; price monitor [10,89] Direct assistance to farmers [102] Crop insurance subsidies [133] Farm support payments [133] Food price subsidies [79] Cooperation and collaboration Information management and policy coordination with governments [12] Public-private cooperation [60] Adjusting marketing strategies [36] Strengthening their positions in retail and online markets [29,114] Diversification of product lines to fill alternative markets [56] Government financial assistance for companies Reduction of fees and taxes [66] Online infrastructures Food delivery app and logistics company [92] Online platforms [29,114,161] Cooperation and collaboration Link farmers and restaurants directly to food banks [58,114] Supply-side; logistics and infrastructure; management and operation…”

Title: An Epidemiological, Strategic and Response Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Asia: A Population Based Observational Study

“…A bias noted in the trends of CFR in South Asian countries may be present due to ongoing improvement in the testing capacity. The insu cient facilities and the ensuing community transmission during the early stage of the pandemic have not been met with adequate governance in the South Asian countries due to premature and discontinuation of social distancing policies (19).…”