Just as it is difficult to forecast the severity of a pandemic, it is hard to predict its economic effects, even if the outbreak’s scope and severity are known. Based on past influenza pandemics and the SARS outbreak, the most significant impacts would be a sharp decline in demand as people avoided shopping malls, restaurants, and other public spaces, and a reduction in the labour supply as workers become ill, stay home out of fear, or take care of others who are sick. The general slowdown in economic activity would reduce gross domestic product (GDP). Business and consumer confidence.
