Comment: V-shaped recovery is no longer a distant dream

Whenever a vaccine is available, a further acceleration in economic activity can be expected

Sectors that have suffered the most – including international travel, entertainment, and hospitality – will come back to life once a vaccine is available. Picture: Getty

Large swaths of the global economy are exhibiting traditional signs of a V-shaped recovery from the pandemic-induced collapse this spring. The monthly indicators for many countries show vigorous rebounds in June and July, with 10 to 15 per cent projected growth in real (inflation-adjusted) GDP in the third quarter, all else being equal.

To be sure, there are reasons to question whether the perceived upturn is merely a technical bounce-back – an illusion caused by ...