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

Cleantech: Burst bubble or our biggest opportunity?
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Cleantech: Burst bubble or our biggest opportunity?

A thriving cleantech sector could be NZ’s ticket to a sustainable, high-value economy.

Why luxury needs a wake-up call
Opinion Fashion

Eden Bradfield: Why luxury needs a wake-up call

The focus should be on selling consumers a lifestyle, not just status symbols. 

Eden Bradfield 01 Jul 2025
Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers
Opinion

Maria Slade: Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers

Misleading ads continue to be thrust in the faces of Mum and Dad investors.

Maria Slade 30 Jun 2025