Reference no: EM132935151

Effects of COVID-19- The road back to economic stability As the global economy tries to get back on its feet despite the pandemic, Fiji's national financial system is no doubt struggling as well. The tourism industry was knocked over in 2020 because of the border closures and absence of international travel. The resultant $3 billion in lost revenue is not the only contributing factor to the struggle. The RBF's April Economic Review made for some tough reading with declines noted in visitor arrivals and mahogany production, investment and consumption activity remaining weak, a decline in job recruitment advertisements with the resultant net fall in compulsory FNPF membership and private sector credit falling for the ninth consecutive month. Global crude oil prices fell because of reduced demand, although we did not see that reflected in Fiji, and liquidity increased to over $1 billion with lending and deposit rates down as a consequence, but again not reflected in increased credit access if anecdotal information is anything to go by. As our government and economists try to wade through the murky waters on the road back to economic survival, Fiji can take small comfort in knowing it is not alone in burgeoning debt levels and very little light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. Countries around the world are grappling with the consequences of the pandemic, and the devastating socioeconomic impacts are apparent as governments struggle to protect the health and wellbeing of citizens and respond effectively to rising unemployment and drastic economic downturns.

• Fiji, despite her ability to punch well above her weight, is still only a small island state with limited resources at her disposal, unable to respond as quickly, recover adequately or safeguard her population without coordinated, international support. Fiji and indeed, many Pacific Island Countries (PICs) may not be able to survive and recover from this crisis in the absence of adequate, timely, and development finance support. The Fiji Bureau of Statistics recently released a report on a survey conducted between January and February this year dealing with the challenges that businesses in Fiji were facing. The respondents of the survey accounted for 70 per cent of Fiji's total gross output in the economy. Survey questions requested responses on business operations, changes in working hours and employment, revenue, capital investment and confirmation of business closures. The survey's results were sobering but not unexpected and indicated that 94 per cent of the businesses interviewed were adversely affected by COVID-19. It also showed that 87 per cent of the businesses reported declines in business income with reported declines between $1 million - $5 million and 32 per cent more than $5 million. To ensure survival and manage business expenditures during the pandemic, the most reported measures undertaken included having to prioritise payments, renegotiation of building rentals, deferment of loan repayments and reduction in wages and salaries.

• The 59 per cent of the businesses surveyed had placed their staff on temporarily reduced working hours - implying that in every 10 businesses in Fiji, six businesses placed their staff on reduced hours during the pandemic. Building resilience as part of the building back better recommendations must be a serious consideration for Fiji. Going back to 'business as usual' would expose us to further shocks. Governments and other public stakeholders must collaborate with the private sector to identify the best way forward. We need to be able to recognise and prioritise opportunities that will firmly set us on a path back to a more resilient recovery. Not just recovery for recovery's sake. There must also be the willingness to identify how the private sector can support this course of action so that we will be able to attract the investments we need as a country and to create an economy that will be more stable, inclusive and sustainable in the long term. And exactly how do we do this? By "designing fiscal and monetary policies able to support the direct provision of resources to support workers and households, the provision of health and unemployment insurance, scaled-up social protection, and support to businesses to prevent bankruptcies and massive job losses". We must first survive before we can effectively move into recovery mode and this will mean we acknowledge that we need a hand to get back up again. But more significantly, it means we must also acknowledge that we need to change what we do when we get back up again, as we inevitably will, and prepare to change key policies that support becoming a more resilient economy. Reference: Lockington, F, 2021.

Problem 1: As the budgetary advisor to the Government, provide at least two recommendations to the Permanent Secretary of Economy on some of the changes required to Fiscal policy in order to stabilize the economy during these unprecedented times

Problem 2: The Governor of Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) invites you as a financial consultant to have a glance at the recently reviewed Monetary Policy. Provide advice based on the following: Briefly outline two things RBF should strive to achieve, apart from other relevant legislations governing (RBF)

Problem 3: Briefly outline two underlying indicators that you would be reviewing which RBF must consider as the basis of its Monetary Policy review

Attachment:- Effects of COVID.zip