The Challenges of Georgia’s Economic Policy in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 in the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Abstract

The increased number of financial crises and ecological catastrophes, as well as expanding inequality in the context of globalisation, have raised questions on the assumptions of mainstream economic theory and its fairness. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, national economies have had to face up to the new reality, which has placed great importance on the context of economic stability, security and sustainable development policies. This paper analyses the issues that need to be considered by national economic bodies in the process of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) and transforming the economy. These issues are based on the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is advisable to transform the economy in a way that focuses on the development of the manufacturing industry, including high-tech industries. However, these sectors should be mainly exportoriented. The development of export production should not only be based on the natural comparative advantage, but also, for the sake of expediency, on the acquired comparative advantage.