Pandemic and statistical perspectives of rethinking supply chains strategies (პანდემია და მიწოდების ჯაჭვების სტრატეგიების ახლებური გააზრების სტატისტიკური ასპექტები)

Abstract

The pandemic, as expected, posed serious problems not only to the global economy as a whole, but also to such a global phenomenon as supply chains. Repeated lockdowns have halted and weakened the flow of raw materials and finished products around the world, which has dealt a serious blow to the normal development of manufacturing processes. Although international statistics are well acquainted with the methods of statistical study and analysis of these processes, this area of statistics in Georgia is still in its infancy. We are talking about Input-Output Statistics as a model of interdependence of different sectors and industries and an important tool of macroeconomic analysis. The importance of this field of statistics is also indicated by the wide scale of internationalization of Input-Output Statistics worldwide, in particular, the development of inter-country and multiregional Input-Output Tables (IOT) and the use of relevant databases for economic analysis and forecasting, which is impossible in the traditional macroeconomic statistics framework. In addition, for Georgia, as for an import-dependent country, it is extremely important to determine and analyze the degree of import content of production and exports. This is possible within the framework of global supply chain models, the important tool of which is the world input-output databases and our country's participation in them. It should be noted also, that since the methodological and practical issues of developing IOT in Georgia are poorly studied at the scientific level, there is practically no in-depth transfer of this knowledge to students, which is vital for detailed study and monitoring of structural changes in the national economy, assessment of the development policy, and development of the right economic strategy. Thus, the lack of Input-Output Statistics in Georgia is problematic in many areas. Its development will be a significant contribution to the strengthening of the capacity of the National Statistical System, and to implementation of IOT production by Geostat. In addition, the results of the study will become an important turning point for Geostat to establish a new level of cooperation with Europe in the field of statistics through integration into the world IOT databases. Theoretical and methodological aspects of the appropriate research will significantly enhance the teaching of disciplines such as macroeconomic statistics, external sector statistics, and the system of national accounts in higher education institutions of economic profile. Academics will receive significant theoretical and informational support for in-depth economic research. Ministries and agencies with an economic profile will have the opportunity to be guided by scientifically substantiated, transparent, and internationally compliant statistical information in the process of designing development policies and researching the structural conformity of the economy. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of Input-Output Statistics from a supply chain phenomenon research perspective and to focus on some of the international experience in this area.