World Economic Outlook Update, January 2021: Policy Support and Vaccines Expected to Lift Activity

World Economic Outlook, January 2021

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Amid exceptional uncertainty, the global economy is projected to grow 5.5 percent in 2021 and 4.2 percent in 2022.
The 2021 forecast is revised up 0.3 percentage point relative to the previous forecast, reflecting expectations of a vaccine-powered strengthening of activity later in the year and additional policy support in a few large economies.
The global growth contraction for 2020 is estimated at -3.5 percent, 0.9 percentage point higher than projected in the previous forecast (reflecting stronger-than-expected momentum in the second half of 2020).
Although recent vaccine approvals have raised hopes of a turnaround in the pandemic later this year, renewed waves and new variants of the virus pose concerns for the outlook.

The severe collapse in 2020 has had acute adverse impacts on women, youth, the poor, the informally employed, and those who work in contact-intensive sectors.
The strength of the recovery is projected to vary significantly across countries, depending on:
- access to medical interventions,
- effectiveness of policy support,
- exposure to cross-country spillovers,
- structural characteristics entering the crisis (Figure 1).

Policy actions should ensure effective support until the recovery is firmly underway, with an emphasis on advancing key imperatives:
- raising potential output,
- ensuring participatory growth that benefits all,
- accelerating the transition to lower carbon dependence.
As noted in the October 2020 World Economic Outlook (WEO), a green investment push coupled with initially moderate but steadily rising carbon prices would yield needed emissions reductions while supporting the recovery from the pandemic recession.

Strong multilateral cooperation is required to bring the pandemic under control everywhere.
Recommended international efforts include:
- bolstering funding for the COVAX facility to accelerate access to vaccines for all countries,
- ensuring universal distribution of vaccines,
- facilitating access to therapeutics at affordable prices for all.
Many countries, particularly low-income developing economies, entered the crisis with high debt that is set to rise further during the pandemic; the global community will need to continue working closely to ensure adequate access to international liquidity for these countries.
Where sovereign debt is unsustainable, eligible countries should work with creditors to restructure their debt under the Common Framework agreed by the G20.

World Economic Outlook Update, January 2021: Policy Support and Vaccines Expected to Lift Activity