Virus Pushes the Global Economy Closer to a Contraction

(Bloomberg) --

Global economic growth will sink to levels not seen in over a decade as the coronavirus outbreak hammers demand and supply, challenging central banks and governments to respond to a fast-changing situation, according to the OECD.

As central banks around the world try to calm a market panic, the Paris-based group also warned of possible global contraction this quarter. It cut its full-year growth to just 2.4% from 2.9%, which would be the weakest since 2009.

If the situation worsens, “co-ordinated policy actions across all the major economies would be needed” for health care and economic stimulus, it said.

Governments and central bankers are already getting battle-ready, raising expectations they may act amid a global stock market rout. The equity sell-off continued on Monday, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index down 1.5%, and U.S. futures also falling.

The Bank of Japan and the Bank of England pledged action aimed at stabilizing financial markets, the Federal Reserve has opened the door to a U.S. interest-rate cut. The Group of Seven finance ministers will hold a teleconference on the crisis this week.

Things could get a lot worse, the OECD said in its report, “Coronavirus: The World at Risk.” The cover of the outlook featured a picture of an empty airport baggage hall, an emblem of the outbreak that’s led to widespread travel restrictions, and shut businesses and schools.

The forecast assumes the China-centered epidemic peaks this quarter and outbreaks in other areas “remain mild and contained.” If it proves longer lasting and spreads through Asia, Europe and the U.S., the economic impact would be severe. Global growth in that case would be just 1.5%, with the possibility of recessions in economies including Japan and the euro area.

“The coronavirus outbreak has already brought considerable human suffering and major economic disruption,” the OECD said. “Growth prospects remain highly uncertain.”

The extent of the hit makes it particularly difficult for policy makers to react. In many countries, central banks have a depleted arsenal after already cutting rates to record lows and spending billions in asset purchases.

The nature of the challenge also means that monetary policy may not be the most appropriate tool, as targeted spending and economic policy are needed, OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said.

“It’s not only a demand shock, it’s a confidence shock and supply chain disruption shock that central banks could not deal with alone,” she said.

If downside risks materialize, the OECD said coordinated action would prove more effective than each country going it alone. It could even be helpful to flag such a possibility now.

“Confidence is falling everywhere so you don’t want to send a reactionary message, but at least a message that you are discussing and being prepared to take measures, and to do that jointly,” Boone said.

There are some measures governments can and must take immediately, the OECD said. Those could include fiscal support for health services, flexible work regimes with guarantees on take-home pay, providing liquidity to the financial sector, targeted support for affected industries like tourism, and looser state aid and fiscal rules.

Beyond Coronavirus, other significant risks continue to weigh on the global economic outlook. Those include trade and investment tensions that “remain high and could spread further,” and uncertainty over Brexit. The recent slump on financial markets also adds to vulnerabilities from high debt levels and deteriorating credit quality, the OECD said.

“We are very humble when we make this forecast,” Boone said in an interview. “It’s a very unusual situation and it’s changing day by day.”

--With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss and Catherine Bosley.

To contact the reporter on this story: William Horobin in Paris at whorobin@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Alaa Shahine

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