The Financial Times warned that global economic problems are undermining its development and threatening a recession. The newspaper pointed out that among the four most pressing issues in the global economy are China's difficulties in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the policies of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the rising cost of living in Europe, and the risk of a food crisis in developing countries. Robin Brooks, chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, stated, "We are now fearing a global recession again, but this time everything has become more real." Earlier, a report from the International Monetary Fund indicated that as politicians and business leaders travel to Davos, the global economy faces what could be its biggest test since World War II. The fund explained that the reasons lie in several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and the ongoing threat of climate change.