The University of Groningen and the Economic Board North Netherlands (EBNN) both expect the North to suffer less, aside from the Eems Delta region
The economy of the Northern Netherlands is less sensitive to measures against the spread of the Coronavirus than the rest of our country, reports the Dagblad van het Noorden. The conclusion has been reached by researchers from the Faculties of Spatial Sciences and Economics & Business of the University of Groningen, in a note for the Economic Board North Netherlands (EBNN).
According to the researchers, sectors that have had a relatively limited economic decline so far are strongly represented in the North. This includes construction, agriculture and the oil and gas industry. In addition to this, the public sector, which also employs a large number of people in the region, is rather strong.
The downturn in the world economy will also hit the North a little less because the part of the country is less dependent on exports than the South, for example. The Assen-Groningen region is likely to be the least affected, in particular due to the strong presence of a growing care sector, and the presence of services that are less sensitive to the Coronavirus regulations.
The Eems Delta in the North of Groningen, near Delfzijl and Eemshaven, on the other hand, is one of the areas in the Netherlands that will be hit the hardest. Heavy industry, which is strongly present there, will shrink sharply.
Incidentally, the Netherlands as a whole is likely slightly better than the rest of the eurozone, according to the IMF and the European Commission.
Image: the Emmahaven at the Eems Delta. Via Wikimedia user Baykedevries. License here.
