Japan leads economic 'Zoom boom' out of recession

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2020/11/16 15:23

Today's Vocabulary

1. recession (n) 
a
period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad

2. cautioned (v) 
to
warn someone

3. demand (n)
a need for something to be
sold or supplied

4. modest (adj) 
not
large in size or amount, or not expensive

5. turnaround (n)
an
occasion when a business, plan, or system suddenly becomes successful

6. platforms (n) 
an
opportunity to make your ideas or beliefs known publicly

7. represents (v) 
to
speak, act, or be present officially for another person or people

Japan leads economic 'Zoom boom' out of recession

Japan’s economy has bounced back from recession with growth of 5% in the third quarter of this year.

It had seen its economy shrink during 2020 as lockdowns hit its manufacturing sector and consumer spending. The world’s third biggest economy is now showing signs of recovery, although some analysts cautioned that further growth is likely to be modest.

Asian economies are leading the way for a global economic recovery, in what some have called a “Zoom boom”. This refers to the increase in demand for screens and laptops as more people work from home, and use online meeting platforms like Zoom.

A rise in domestic demand as well as exports have helped drive economic growth in Japan. Japan’s third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5% is compared to the previous quarter, which saw its economy shrink 8.2%. This turnaround is the fastest pace on record for Japanese economic growth. 

The bounceback is welcome news for Japan’s government which has avoided the tough lockdown measures seen in some other countries. The global economy as a whole is expected to contract by 4.4% this year, while the US will shrink by 4.3%, according to the International Monetary Fund.

However, Asian economies are leading the way when it comes to showing signs of recovery. China remains on track to grow by about 2% this year, the most of any major economy. “We call it the Zoom boom,” said Rory Green, an economist at research firm TS Lombard.

Resource:https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54955484

Discussion
  1. What changes would you like to make to the economy in your own country?
  2. How does a strong or weak U.S. economy affect the rest of the world?
  3. Do you think China’s economy will be stronger than America’s one day?

A strong economy begins with a strong, well-educated workforce.