This panel will compare and contrast the economic policy response to COVID-19 undertaken by countries around the world in both developed and emerging economies. It will explore the immediate impact on supply-chains and the outlook for trade and cross-border investment from here.

Reuben Abraham (@nebuer42) is CEO of IDFC Foundation and IDFC Institute, a Mumbai based think/do tank focused on state capability and political economy issues. He is a non-resident scholar at the Marron Institute at New York University, and a senior fellow at the Milken Institute in Singapore. In addition, he is a Senior Advisor to Swiss Re and an Honorary Advisor to the New Zealand government at the New Zealand Asia Foundation.

Ailish Campbell (@Ailish_Campbell) joined Global Affairs Canada as the Chief Trade Commissioner of Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister in March 2017.  She leads a global team that helps Canadian business find new customers, troubleshoot market access, sell their products, and grow their businesses. Ailish also leads work across global trade support services including export finance, foreign investment and responsible business conduct. Previously, she held senior executive positions at Finance Canada, the Business Council of Canada and the Privy Council Office. Ailish began her career in the Canadian federal public service as a trade negotiator on the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.  She holds a Doctorate in International Relations from the University of Oxford and is designated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.  

Rain Newton-Smith (@RainNewtonSmith) is the Chief Economist at the Confederation of British Industry. She and her team provide business leaders with advice on the UK economic outlook and global risks. Previously, Rain was head of Emerging Markets at Oxford Economics where she managed a large team of economists and was the lead expert on China. Prior to that, Rain worked on the international forecast for the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England and also led a team with responsibility for developing a risk assessment framework for the UK financial system.

Kazumi Nishikawa is Principal Director of Healthcare Industries Division, METI (Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry) of Japan. He is a member of the Global Future Council for Human Enhancement and Longevity, World Economic Forum. Mr Nishikawa has also worked in the Defence Ministry and Cabinet Office. He holds a law degree from the University of Tokyo, an LLM from Northwestern University School of Law, and an LLM in International Studies from Georgetown University Law Center. He is an attorney at Law in New York State, USA.

Lutfey Siddiqi (@Lutfeys) is a Visiting Professor-in-Practice at LSE IDEAS, a member of LSE Court and the Advisory Board of LSE Systemic Risk Centre. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore (Risk Management Institute), and advisory board member of NUS Centre for Governance (CGIO).

This event is part of LSE's public event series - COVID-19: The Policy Response.

COVID-19 represents an enormous challenge for the social sciences to help governments and non-governmental organisations respond to the economic and societal consequences of the pandemic. Part of LSE's response to this challenge is a series of online public events that will take place over the Summer Term.

Why not visit the School of Public Policy COVID-19 Resource Centre.

This event in the series has been organised by LSE IDEAS.

The next event in this series will take place at 2pm on 1 June on COVID-19 and Africa: pandemics and global politics.

LSE IDEAS (@lseideas) is LSE's foreign policy think tank. We connect academic knowledge of diplomacy and strategy with the people who use it.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSECOVID19

Podcast & Video

A podcast of this event is available to download at COVID-19 Economic Response: a comparitive, cross-border perspective.

A video of this event is available to watch at COVID-19 Economic Response: a comparitive, cross-border perspective.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.