Why has the UK economy been hit the hardest?
Why has the UK economy been hit the hardest?
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Esceptico

Original Poster:

8,897 posts

133 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Reading an article this morning about the impact of Covid on the Japanese economy it seems they have suffered a drop in GDP of about 8% (worse on record) but that seems quite good compared to the UK’s 20% drop, which is close to double the drop for other major economies.

Why has the UK been hit so hard? Something unique to the UK economy or because of how the government has handled the crisis?

voyds9

8,490 posts

307 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Because we haven't cheated on the figures?

Vanden Saab

17,429 posts

98 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
It hasn't / thread

dmahon

2,717 posts

88 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Because the government and media scare mongering have terrified everyone, and culturally bought us to a point where the old normal such as shopping or working in offices feels risky and alien.

Then the way we are coming out of lockdowns with baby steps and all of the social distancing, one way systems, signage, track and trace, hitler customer service attitude etc making engaging with the economy more hassle than it’s worth.

Add in our shouty virtue signalling social media for a bit more of a drag on our return to normal.

I’ve been travelling around France, and apart from face masks, the towns and cities are buzzing and everyone is behaving normally. They are going to outperform our economy massively over the next year or two.

I’m really concerned for the UK right now.

anonymous-user

78 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Brexit is part of it, I would guess. Compared to similar service economies, I would guess long term economic performance will pretty closely inversely correlated to number of cases. UK was harder hit for some reason. And took longer to get the virus under control. To what degree that is luck, time might tell.

But countries that got on top of the virus quick seem to have done relatively well, eg Finland, China, South Korea etc, all had smaller relative drops.

Then you have tourist countries, but not sure if comparable?

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

197 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
sambucket said:
Brexit is part of it, I would guess. Compared to similar service economies, I would guess long term economic performance will pretty closely inversely correlated to number of cases. UK was harder hit for some reason. And took longer to get the virus under control. To what degree that is luck, time might tell.

But countries that got on top of the virus quick seem to have done relatively well, eg Finland, China, South Korea etc, all had smaller relative drops.

Then you have tourist countries, but not sure if comparable?
Explain how BREXIT has made it worse.

We've had a longer Lockdown than most for a start.


Vanden Saab

17,429 posts

98 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
sambucket said:
Brexit is part of it, I would guess. Compared to similar service economies, I would guess long term economic performance will pretty closely inversely correlated to number of cases. UK was harder hit for some reason. And took longer to get the virus under control. To what degree that is luck, time might tell.

But countries that got on top of the virus quick seem to have done relatively well, eg Finland, China, South Korea etc, all had smaller relative drops.

Then you have tourist countries, but not sure if comparable?
In both Spain and the UK tourism accounts for 10% of GDP.

eharding

14,648 posts

308 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
Reading an article this morning about the impact of Covid on the Japanese economy it seems they have suffered a drop in GDP of about 8% (worse on record) but that seems quite good compared to the UK’s 20% drop, which is close to double the drop for other major economies.

Why has the UK been hit so hard? Something unique to the UK economy or because of how the government has handled the crisis?
Because the Japanese have a deep-rooted culture of wearing masks to prevent onward infection as a consideration to others?

I know, it probably doesn't have a bearing on the difference in GDP drop, but the mere thought will flash-boil the wee of our usual scalding-hot-piss enthusiasts.


MyNewLeng

171 posts

99 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Because our mainstream media and the 77th Brigade win the gold medal in fear mongering and whipping up hysteria to generate maximum lockdown compliance within the general population.

Now they are reaping the whirlwind after sowing the winds of panic. This level of fear is not something that can be easily switched off once it's been activated.


anonymous-user

78 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Vanden Saab said:
In both Spain and the UK tourism accounts for 10% of GDP.
Source? Seems unlikley.


Vanden Saab

17,429 posts

98 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
eharding said:
Esceptico said:
Reading an article this morning about the impact of Covid on the Japanese economy it seems they have suffered a drop in GDP of about 8% (worse on record) but that seems quite good compared to the UK’s 20% drop, which is close to double the drop for other major economies.

Why has the UK been hit so hard? Something unique to the UK economy or because of how the government has handled the crisis?
Because the Japanese have a deep-rooted culture of wearing masks to prevent onward infection as a consideration to others?

I know, it probably doesn't have a bearing on the difference in GDP drop, but the mere thought will flash-boil the wee of our usual scalding-hot-piss enthusiasts.
Amusingly Japan is probably the last country you would hold up as a comparison as their annual YoY decline is -27.8% compared to the UK at -21.7%.... 8% when you have already have had two quarters of recession is not comparable.

DiamondLights

334 posts

70 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Because we have the worst government out of the G7 quite simply.

We dicked about letting COVID run riot, then got to the lockdown party late and had to lockdown harder and stronger and longer than most other countries.

ant1973

5,693 posts

229 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Vanden Saab said:
eharding said:
Esceptico said:
Reading an article this morning about the impact of Covid on the Japanese economy it seems they have suffered a drop in GDP of about 8% (worse on record) but that seems quite good compared to the UK’s 20% drop, which is close to double the drop for other major economies.

Why has the UK been hit so hard? Something unique to the UK economy or because of how the government has handled the crisis?
Because the Japanese have a deep-rooted culture of wearing masks to prevent onward infection as a consideration to others?

I know, it probably doesn't have a bearing on the difference in GDP drop, but the mere thought will flash-boil the wee of our usual scalding-hot-piss enthusiasts.
Amusingly Japan is probably the last country you would hold up as a comparison as their annual YoY decline is -27.8% compared to the UK at -21.7%.... 8% when you have already have had two quarters of recession is not comparable.
Yup. All those masks have clearly made a difference...

Vanden Saab

17,429 posts

98 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
sambucket said:
Vanden Saab said:
In both Spain and the UK tourism accounts for 10% of GDP.
Source? Seems unlikley.

2016 rofl

data from Spain includes indirect impact. roflrofl

2/10 Must try harder... see teacher...

TriumphStag3.0V8

5,161 posts

105 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
DiamondLights said:
Because we have the worst government out of the G7 quite simply.

We dicked about letting COVID run riot, then got to the lockdown party late and had to lockdown harder and stronger and longer than most other countries.
Except we didn't did we.

anonymous-user

78 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Vanden Saab said:
2016 rofl

data from Spain includes indirect impact. roflrofl

2/10 Must try harder... see teacher...
Are you 12 years old?

The spain figure is pretty close to what you said, yet you trash it? hehe

And where is your source for uk gbp?


fido

18,557 posts

279 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Japan never locked down. Whether it's down to genetics, better diet or probably just being pragmatic.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-22...

bazza white

3,728 posts

152 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
Because companies that shouldn't have shutdown said sod it shutdown and furlough'd its staff.

loafer123

16,494 posts

239 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all

Most other European countries shut down before us and opened before us.

By comparison, our shutdown was almost entirely in Q2, so the impact, statistically, is greater.

I suspect our bounce back will be better, however.

monkfish1

12,249 posts

248 months

Monday 17th August 2020
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
sambucket said:
Brexit is part of it, I would guess. Compared to similar service economies, I would guess long term economic performance will pretty closely inversely correlated to number of cases. UK was harder hit for some reason. And took longer to get the virus under control. To what degree that is luck, time might tell.

But countries that got on top of the virus quick seem to have done relatively well, eg Finland, China, South Korea etc, all had smaller relative drops.

Then you have tourist countries, but not sure if comparable?
Explain how BREXIT has made it worse.

We've had a longer Lockdown than most for a start.
The answer is: because sambucket.

He clearly hasnt noticed that brexit hasnt actually happened yet in any practical way, but now its responsible for our poor performance. Another classic.