The world is almost back to pre-covid activity levels

The world is almost back to pre-covid activity levels
Economic activity is back, but the pandemic has changed where activity occurs. (Image: Getty)
The Economist
In much of the world, the pandemic may be as over as it ever will be.Vaccinations, including boosters, and efforts to halt new variants or winter waves will probably continue.But China remains the only major exception to accepting sars-cov-2 as endemic. On Sept 1 it locked down Chengdu, a city of 21 million. In other countries, governments are no longer making radical new interventions in how people live to contain this virus.But if the new endemic normal is here, how does it compare with the world before the pandemic? The evidence so...

More Opinion

The 20% question
Opinion

David Chaplin: The 20% question

KiwiSavers' average per member is better than nothing, but probably not enough.

Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk

Political polarisation is becoming more of a worry for NZ investors.

Dileepa Fonseka 15 Sep 2025
The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …
Opinion

Simon Robertson: The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …

Discussing the future of the West and humanity is bone-chilling.

Simon Robertson 13 Sep 2025
Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline

The digital economy deserves more than ceremonial change.

Peter Griffin 10 Sep 2025