Introduction to the special section: the impact of Covid-19 and post-pandemic recovery: China and the world economy

Abstract

It is indisputable that the Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the world economy and indeed panglobal society in many dimensions. In this Introduction to our Special Section, we examine the dynamics involved, particularly in relation to China and the world economy, and the response policies utilised for post-pandemic recovery based on detailed and critical comments and summaries of the excellent papers collected in this volume. We highlight the impact of the pandemic on global supply chains with a particular focus on China’s trade, foreign direct investment, digitalisation and innovation, its cooperation with its major trade partners, as well as the economic outlook of the Chinese economy against the backlock of the pandemic and US-China tensions. How other countries responded to the pandemic is also brought in so as to understand China’s response in a broad context and the role of culture and institutions in the process.