Washington DC - The IMF says we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression because of the coronavirus. As world leaders gather virtually for the Spring International Monetary Fund and World Bank Meetings, the Fund released its April World Economic Outlook Report, dubbing the crisis, the "Great Lockdown" and reporting that the global economy will lose at least $9 trillion in 2020 and 2021.
"This is the most frightening news the Fund has ever released on the status of our global economy," noted Jubilee USA Executive Director Eric LeCompte, who tracked IMF meetings and reports since the 2008 financial crisis. LeCompte's organization detailed a financial crisis plan to the IMF on March 23rd. "When you analyze what the IMF is actually saying, the message is things could even get worse and they really don't know how bad it can actually get."
The IMF report forecasts that if "lockdowns" and the spread of the virus becomes more limited in the Fall, we could see economic growth for some countries in 2021. However, those growth projections would already be below previous IMF 2021 growth projections.
The IMF report forecasts the economy will contract 3% in 2020 before coronavirus containment policies can be gradually loosened, with economic growth of 5.8% predicted as the economy stabilizes.
Over the next three days, the G7, G20, IMF and World Bank will meet to determine solutions to deal with the growing crisis.
"Urgent action is required by the IMF and G20 this week," stated LeCompte, a United Nations finance expert. "During the meetings this week world leaders must move forward aid, financing and debt relief for developed and developing countries so people can survive the devastating health and economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis."
Read the April 2020 World Economic Outlook here
Read about the IMF's Debt Relief for 25 Poor Countries here
Read about the Catholic Bishops Letter to Urge President Trump to Lead Global COVID-19 Debt Relief here
Read Jubilee USA's March 23rd letter to IMF on a health and economic COVID-19 plan here
Read Jubilee USA's April 1st letter to the IMF on reserve gold funds here
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two leading proponents of debt relief for developing countries urged the White House to lead the call for a moratorium on debt payments for poor nations so they can devote funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The request came in an April 8 letter from Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Illinois, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, an alliance of faith-based development and advocacy groups.
The letter said a moratorium would aid the 76 poorest countries while safeguarding U.S. economic interests.
“The leadership of the U.S. government is vital to ensuring that our world will emerge from this pandemic with greater resilience and a renewed understanding of the greater interconnectedness of humanity,” the letter said.
A decision to suspend debt payments would allow for a better way to assess debt sustainability and vulnerabilities and, if necessary, open a process to restructure debt, the letter added.
The request comes as the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers from the European Union and industrial and emerging market nations were preparing to discuss the issue during meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank starting April 14.
G-20 finance officials have long expressed concern about the high level of debt of developing nations and emerging market economies.
“Suspending debt payments, with no interest, can immediately allow countries to access funds to bolster their health systems and support needed stimulus packages in the developing world, allowing these countries to provide for their own health safety and security,” the letter said.
Bishop Malloy and LeCompte also wrote that the financial crisis that has emerged as the pandemic grows threatens U.S. imports and exports to developing countries.
“Providing a suspension of debt payments and debt relief will help safeguard our common interests of returning the U.S. economy to prosperity and growth,” they said.
Read more here.