The coronavirus pandemic could have major implications for global development.
As of now, most of the countries that have been hit hardest by COVID-19 are higher income countries; places like Italy, South Korea, and the United States. According to the World Health Organization, there are now over 200,000 cases worldwide.
Lower income countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, have not yet recorded significant clusters of the coronavirus — but the economic consequences of the virus are being felt around the world.
COVID-19 and Global Development
How can low income countries protect themselves from both the threats to the health of their population and the economic fallout of this crisis? This includes many countries that have been the focus of intense economic and social development efforts, often backed by international institutions like the World Bank
Amanda Glassman is on the line with me to answer that question and to discuss the potential effects of the coronavirus on global development. She is the executive vice president and senior fellow with the Center for Global Development, and someone I have long turned to help me understand how international development works.