The current world economy is on an upswing, according to the latest McKinsey Global Survey. More than half of CEOs expect conditions to be better six months from now, while only 30 percent anticipate that they will be worse. Executives in North America and developing markets are the most optimistic about conditions. However, many factors are weighing on the global economy. Here's a closer look at some of the key factors affecting the world economy._finance 

Growth in advanced economies

There's no question that the world's economic growth has slowed since the global financial crisis. This slowdown has coincided with the widening gap between advanced and emerging market economies. According to the World Economic Outlook, growth in advanced economies is likely to slow from 5.3 percent in 2021 to 3.8 percent in 2022 and 2.3 percent in 2030. The slowdown will return output and investment to pre-pandemic levels in advanced economies and emerging market economies. Growth in developing economies will remain at around four percent below pre-pandemic levels._Finance

Potential growth is the rate of growth that an economy can sustain over the medium term without generating excessive inflation. In advanced economies, potential growth has slowed in recent decades due to lower growth rates and lower productivity and capital stock accumulation. Although growth rates have increased a bit since 2013, they still remain far below potential growth. Ultimately, the slowdown is a problem for the advanced economies. If they are going to maintain growth rates above potential, they must fix the issues that are slowing down their economies.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be most severe in developing countries. In such countries, the loss of income from the pandemic will expose pre-existing economic vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the severity of the losses is likely to be long-lasting, which will make it difficult for countries to recover. This paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy and suggests ways to mitigate the negative impacts._Finance

In the first table, we have estimated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world economic activity. We computed the impact by comparing actual GDP growth in 2020 to the IMF's October 2019 forecast. We found that the impact of COVID-19 was greater in emerging market countries, but not in advanced economies. In the second table, we look at six different policy variables related to GDP growth. Revenue growth in middle-income countries declined by nearly 1 percentage point.

Impact of war in Ukraine on food and fertilizer prices

The war in Ukraine is already affecting Ukrainian farmers and exports. Export bans limit the supply of food and fertilizer, and may further exacerbate a supply shortage. Meanwhile, prospects for spring planting and winter crop harvesting remain uncertain. The limited availability of fuel, seeds, and other inputs will reduce potential plantings and yields. On May 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its official crop forecast for 2022/23.

The conflict in Ukraine is already affecting the world's food supply. In addition to the escalating price of food, the conflict has resulted in massive shortages of food. The war is especially devastating for those in Ukraine who depend on agricultural products. The country produces a quarter of the world's wheat, and 40 percent of its corn and wheat is exported to the Middle East. This could push millions further into poverty. Moreover, Russia is the world's largest fertilizer producer, and its recent spike in prices has already led to a 30 percent jump in food prices. IFAD has published a report on the war's impact on small farmers and rural communities.

Impact of climate change on world trade

The effects of climate change on the global economy are often overlooked, but trade will likely play a vital role in adapting to this changing environment. While the climate is not directly causing the current decline in world trade, it is affecting production in all countries. This event will provide a fresh perspective on the connection between trade and climate change, and emerging policies and strategies for dealing with the impacts. The panel will also discuss ways to ensure that global trade remains competitive and sustainable.

The IPCC Sixth Assessment (AR6) includes three special reports and a synthesis report. The AR6 assessed the physical science of climate change and the intensity of its effects. The third assessment will focus on the adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change. The latest report suggests that behavioural changes in societies around the world will need to take place. In particular, international mitigation policies and trade agreements should focus on the needs of small and middle-sized countries.