Five Years Later, COVID-19's Economic Ripples Persist

The pandemic's legacy continues to shape global debt, labor markets, and consumer behavior, with lasting changes in travel, work, and digital trends.

Global government debt has risen by 12 percentage points since 2020, with emerging markets seeing the steepest increases.
Inflation, driven by post-lockdown spending and supply chain disruptions, peaked in 2022, prompting central banks to raise interest rates unevenly worldwide.
Labor markets experienced significant shifts, with job losses affecting women and poorer households most, but workforce participation has partially rebounded.
Travel habits have evolved, with remote work reducing urban commuting and the airline industry recovering to record passenger levels despite high hotel prices.
The pandemic accelerated digital adoption, stabilizing e-commerce growth and reshaping investment trends, including a surge in cryptocurrency interest.