Growth in East and South Asia expected to pick up slightly
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This is according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2016 report. Aggregate growth in East and South Asia is forecast to pick up slightly from 5.7 percent in 2015 to 5.8 percent in both 2016 and 2017 amid a modest improvement in global growth.
As the world economy continues to face considerable headwinds, the external environment for most economies in the region will remain challenging. In 2015, sharply lower commodity prices, weak trade activity, large capital outflows and increased financial market volatility weighed on aggregate growth, which fell to the lowest level since 2001.
Risks to outlook could negatively impact trade and investment A key risk to the regional outlook is a sharper-than-expected slowdown of the Chinese economy, which would negatively impact trade and investment flows in East Asia. Another risk factor is related to the monetary policy normalization in the United States, which could lead to renewed financial turmoil or a tightening of liquidity conditions across the region.
East Asia is projected to see steady growth According to the report, East Asia is forecast to see solid Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 5.6 percent in both 2016 and 2017 – about the same rate as in 2015, but significantly below the average of 6.3 percent recorded in 2012-2014.
Further moderation in China's growth is expected to be offset by a pickup in activity in some other large economies such as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Indonesia, Taiwan Province of China and Thailand. Given protracted weak demand in most developed countries and global financial market uncertainty, East Asia's economies will continue to rely on domestic and regional sources of growth, including more expansionary fiscal policies.
Economic growth in China is expected to further ease from an estimated 6.8 percent in 2015 to 6.4 percent in 2016 as the economy undergoes a structural transformation towards a more balanced and sustainable growth path.
Amid the slowdown in China, increased financial and exchange rate volatility and sluggish overseas demand, growth estimates for most Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies for 2015 have been revised downward.
In Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, a modest pick-up in growth is forecast for 2016 on the back of increased infrastructure spending, a mild recovery in exports and robust household demand. The economies of Taiwan Province of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China have posted weak export performances over the past year.
For both economies, a pick-up in exports and steady private consumption growth are expected to drive moderate growth recoveries in 2016/17. Among the bright spots in the region have been the economies of Myanmar and Viet Nam, where growth-supporting factors, such as new investment and strong consumer spending, are projected to remain in place.
Unemployment in East Asia generally low The report notes that in most East Asian economies, the official unemployment rate is low, ranging from 1 to 4 percent. Major exceptions are Indonesia and the Philippines, where unemployment stands near or above 6 percent.
The share of unpaid family workers and own-account workers in total employment remains high, however, and low-productivity and low-wage jobs are widespread. For East Asian economies to rebalance towards domestic demand, increases are needed in labour's share in total income, which has declined or remains low in many economies.
Average consumer price inflation in East Asia is expected to pick up from an estiÂmated multi-year low of 1.6 percent in 2015 to 2.2 percent in 2016, in line with stronger activity in the majority of the sub-region's economies. Monetary policy remains generally accommodative, although real interest rates have returned to positive territory in all countries owing to low inflation.
Further monetary easing is expected to be limited due to anticipated interest rate increases in the United States, already low policy rates across the sub-region, and high household debt as well as concerns over asset market valuations in some economies.
In response to slowing growth, fiscal policy stances have become more expansionary as governments in several large economies introduced stimulus packages or countercyclical measures in 2015.
There is room for additional fiscal measures as public debt levels are generally low. Growth in South Asia is expected to strengthen, led by India According to the report, economic growth in South Asia is projected to strengthen in 2016/17, contingent upon steady progress on domestic policy reforms.
Aggregate GDP is expected to grow by 6.7 percent in 2016 and 7 percent in 2017, up from an estimated growth of 6 percent in 2015.
The improved outlook is likely to be broad-based. In most economies, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, strong private consumption will remain the major driver of growth, offsetting relatively tight fiscal policies and weak exports.
Some country-specific factors, such as the lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran and reconstruction spending in Nepal, are also expected to support economic activity during the outlook period.
India's economy, which accounts for over 70 percent of South Asia's GDP, is projected to grow by 7.3 percent in 2016 and 7.5 percent in 2017, slightly up from an estimated 7.2 percent in 2015.
As in other countries of the sub-region, the macÂroeconomic environment in India has improved over the past two years, helped by the sharp decline in the prices of oil, metals and food. As a net oil-importing region, South Asia has seen reduced inflationary pressures.
Average consumer price inflation slowed from 8.2 percent in 2014 to 6.2 percent in 2015, the lowest level in more than a decade. Upward price pressures are expected to remain muted in the short run.
Amid lower inflation, monetary policy has been loosened in several economies, most notably India. While room for further easing is relatively limited, monetary policy is projected to remain accommodative in most countries.
Budget deficits in most South Asian economies are expected to further moderate gradually in the wake of low oil prices, stronger economic activity and rationalization of fuel subsidies.
Nonetheless, fiscal positions remain fundamentally weak and further reforms are needed to enhance the fiscal space. ■