First in First Out? The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Asian Economies

Recorded: June 11, 2020

Professor Bert Hofman examines the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Asia’s major economies and their prospects for recovery. He also discusses the potential impact on regional and global trade and supply chains, and international relations. Moderator: Glenn TIffert

Bio:
Professor Bert Hofman is the Director of the East Asian Institute at the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore. During a distinguished career at the World Bank, he served as Country Director for China (2014-2019) and Chief Economist for East Asia and Pacific (2011-2014).

[billandpech]

In no way do I want to diminish Professor Hoffman's valuable insight and expertise. But as this interview move forward if became more apparent that his professional experience heavily skew his perspective toward policies promoted by the CCP.

[mppauling]

Given that China is completely not cooperating and that it is well known their numbers are false, why include them in this bit of information? Also, points made about the economic issues as a secondary problem but no mention of the neglect of "elective" medical procedures and important out patient diagnostic and out patient treatment. Adding the issue of food production and distribution, lock downs do more damage then they prevent and the full impact of the damage of lock downs is still not fully known....as the evidence of neglect in this video.

In addition to the above, when talking about infections per million, I found it to be a useless number without detailing out what demographics of the infected population it breaks down to. Masks are a crazy mixed up issue. First, most people do not have access to mask that are capable of preventing infection of a virus that is smaller than bacteria. Using cloth mask with the idea if you are infected and cough or sneeze it will prevent others from being infected is bogus. I've seen reports that cloth masks are only 2% reliable in this regard. Health agencies have been remiss in communicating just how weak mask are. Many people when asked will say the mask will prevent them from catching the virus, show just how misinformed they are.
It seems to me that lock downs have only dragged out this pandemic making _secondary_ health problems more significant and still the same number of people would/will eventually get sick from this virus. The US has in most of the country been under 1:1 for nearly a month.

Hearing how well China managed this virus is an insult to any intelligent person. They are responsible for every death from this virus and all the measures taken so far are for not. The same amount of people will get sick and a percentage will die, like most flu and other causes of "preventable" deaths. The flattening of the curve was to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed leading to tough triage decisions and that somehow turned into preventing deaths....not delaying deaths.