World economic forum conference

by Anurag KumarHealth spending is largely viewed as a cost. This is true of Governments and individuals alike. Finance Ministries thinks of health as a social sector expenditure. Individuals avoid paying for health till it becomes absolutely necessary and unavoidable.It would be wise for both, Governments, and individuals to consider health as an investment instead. Individual ‘investment’ in self-care and preventive health yield returns by lowering need for, and spending on curative care. Government investment in health has a strong multiplier effect throughout the economy in addition to enhancing the population’s well-being.The 2021 budget presents an opportunity to mark a departure from the chronic, low public spending on health. Policymakers should take the Covid-19 pandemic as a cue to move health expenditure to a higher orbit. Beyond the immediate need to fund Covid-19 vaccination, it is also a critical juncture where the role and impact of public health funding … [Read more...] about Investing in health is good economics

"Through the activities of this group, we aim to create the perception of being a direct partner, not a sectoral dialogue partner, for the ASEAN countries and increase the effectiveness of the Turkish business world in the region," Olpak said on Tuesday in an online meeting with journalists. … [Read more...] about Turkey seeks to enhance ties with ASEAN amid COVID-19 economic woes

Trade growth in Chinese exports was initially driven by demand for pandemic-related products such as face masks and computing equipment for remote working, but the recovery has since broadened out, with other shipments now up year on year as well, according to Chris Leung, chief China economist of Singapore-based DBS Bank. … [Read more...] about Economic Watch: Zooming into China’s economy in 2020 beneath headline growth

While the World Bank (WB) projected the global economy to have pulled back by 4.3 percent in 2020, China's outperformance in the same period has likely lifted the global economy as a whole by "nearly double its usual contribution," said the report, quoting Homi Kharas, a senior global economics and development fellow at the Brookings Institution. … [Read more...] about China’s 2020 economic performance helps global economy: media

Besides honoring the longstanding tradition, Wang's visit unfolded at the backdrop of a debilitating global health crisis that still has much of the world under its grip. Many foreign leaders have since shunned the continent. Yet here was China's top diplomat reassuring the continent of Beijing's availability and friendship with a personal visit. … [Read more...] about Sino-African friendship growing ever deeper