This study aims to see whether the process of export and import convergence occurs with the control variable of the size of the country's economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as measured by GDP and spatial interactions. The method of analysis in this study uses the Spatial Dynamic Panel. The research objects are 64 countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic-data taken in the period 2019q4-2020q3. The results show that GDP and spatial elements influence the process of export and import convergence. The speed of convergence and the length of time to reach a steady-state, imports are better than exports reaching 28-38% within about one semester and reaching 15-16% with a duration of 1 year (export model). Exports and imports during the COVID-19 pandemic reflect interactions between countries, with distance as a determining factor. However the role of interaction between countries tends to be insignificant in the long run.
Testing of economic convergence in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic