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Why economic resilience will define the next era of development

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yesterday

For decades, economic performance has been measured through a narrow set of indicators: GDP growth, productivity gains, and industrial output. These metrics mattered, and they still do. They signal momentum, shape policy, and attract investment. Yet in a world marked by geopolitical tension, disrupted supply chains, and increasing global uncertainty, they no longer capture the full picture. They show whether economies are expanding, but not whether that expansion can endure under stress.

Recent crises have exposed that weakness. Energy shocks have shown how fragile supply chains can become when they rely too heavily on a small number of routes, suppliers, or regions. Global disruptions have affected shipping and trade links between markets. Extreme weather has tested infrastructure, food systems, and water security. Each disruption has demonstrated how quickly growth built only on efficiency can unravel. The lesson is increasingly clear: growth without resilience is difficult to sustain.

Economic resilience is increasingly becoming a defining measure of development. It is the capacity to absorb shocks, maintain essential systems, and recover with enough strength to keep moving forward. In that sense, resilience is not an alternative to growth. It is what makes growth more durable.

This begins with infrastructure. Energy networks must continue to function under stress. Transport and communications systems must remain connected when conditions deteriorate. Water and food systems must withstand volatility, not simply operate efficiently in normal times. Yet resilience also depends on people. Economies cannot remain stable if access to power, healthcare, clean water, or education remains uneven. When........

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