Impact of COVID 19 to the Fijian Economy

Since the COVID19 was declared as an emergency back in January 2020 by the World Health Organisation,

it has reached to above 190 countries around the globe1. As of 19th May 2020, 4,979,402 people have been

infected, 324,375 deaths are recorded, and 1,951,096 people have been recovered2. 146 countries,

including Fiji, has implemented travel restrictions and closed their borders for foreign nationals3 as reported

by Aljazeera on 19th May 2020. This restriction also includes commercial activities in many of the countries.

Tourists cannot and do not want to travel to any foreign location. Commercial activities within the country

and at the international level have reduced dramatically. Ozili and Arun4 in his research on COVID19

pandemic have reported that the tourism industry alone has lost over USD200 billion revenue. In a press

release by Asian Development Bank on 15th May 20205, the bank reported that global economy potentially

could lose USD8.8 trillion, as a result of COVID19 pandemic. Banks further reported that economic losses

in Asia and Pacific would range from USD1.7 trillion to USD2.5 trillion in short range of three months to six

months.

Fiji is not an exemption from this COVID19 pandemic. The country is in severe economic pressure. Many

organisations countrywide reported cut in working hours, salary reduction, sending employees on leave

without pay. KPMG6 estimated that economy will contract by 4.3% this year, debt to GDP ratio will increase

to 60.9% and there will be a downturn in tourism by 38% (I feel the impact would be much higher).

The Fijian government has declared an immediate relief package for the affected people in the country.

Ministry of Economy wants to carry out largescale research to investigate the impact of COVID19 on the

Fijian economy and the people. Thus, the ministry is inviting research ideas on how to conduct this research.

You, as an expert in research methodology, are also encouraged to participate in this research.

You are required to advise on the followings:

I. Explain if this research is:

A. Pure research or applied research

B. Deductive or inductive approach

II. What would be dependent and independent variable for this research?

(hint: independent variables would be a different component of the economy, identify them

and explain.

III. What sampling method would you use to conduct this research and why?

IV. What research method would you use for this research; qualitative research method,

quantitative research method or mix method? Justify why you want to use any specific

research method.

V. Suggest a structure for research report writing.

1 "Mapping the Spread of the COVID19 in the U.S. and Worldwide," Washington Post Staff, Washington Post,

March 4, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/01/22/mappingspreadnewCOVID

19/?arc404=true

2 Worldmeter, COVID19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, Last updated: May 19, 2020, 22:27 GMT,

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

3 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country, Aljazeera, 19th May

2020, online https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirustravelrestrictionsbordershutdownscountry

200318091505922.html

4 Ozili, P., Arun, (2020), Spillover of COVID19: impact on the Global Economy, SSRN Electronic, DOI:

10.2139/ssrn.3562570

5 COVID19 Economic Impact Could Reach $8.8 Trillion Globally New ADB Report, Asian Development Bank, 15th

May 2020, online https://www.adb.org/news/covid19economicimpactcouldreach88trilliongloballynewadb

report

6 KPMG, Fiji Government and institution measures in response to COVID19, 15th May 2020, online

https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/fijigovernmentandinstitutionmeasuresinresponsetocovid.

html