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

War on the Nasdaq
Opinion

Simon Robertson: War on the Nasdaq

Who wins as Michael Burry declares war on AI?

Simon Robertson 08 Nov 2025
War on Nature v Going for Growth
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: War on Nature v Going for Growth

Some big environmental eggs were broken this week to 'go for growth'.

Pattrick Smellie 07 Nov 2025
A blueprint to beat our economic malaise
Opinion

Peter Griffin: A blueprint to beat our economic malaise

NZ must trade talk for execution and invest in talent to escape its economic woes. 

Peter Griffin 05 Nov 2025
KiwiSaver: Why side-pockets are out
Opinion

David Chaplin: KiwiSaver: Why side-pockets are out

Government scraps KiwiSaver reforms, keeps only disclosure tweak.

David Chaplin 04 Nov 2025