Suchergebnisse

The Chinese model for economic growth is undergoing a fundamental reorientation. While output has been driven by investments and exports in recent decades, private consumption is expected to become a major trigger for future GDP growth. However, the conditions for higher demand from households are far from optimal: the savings rate is high, driven in particular by the low level of social security and highly regulated financial markets. It remains to be seen whether the government can transform China into a consumer society without causing major friction.

The article investigates the determinants of consumer price inflation in China. While inflation has been entirely driven by international factors, such as food and energy prices, in the period preceeding the financial crisis, domestic drivers like monetary developments and nominal wages have become increasingly important since then. Due to tight trade linkages and the presence of Chinese firms in international production chains, the changing pattern is also relevant to other countries.

In China zeichnet sich eine fundamentale Neuausrichtung des wirtschaftlichen Wachstumsmodells ab. Während die Produktion in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten vor allem aufgrund der hohen Investitionen und zunehmenden Exporte gestiegen ist, soll künftig der private Konsum einen höheren Anteil zum Wachstum des Bruttoinlandsprodukts beitragen. Die Voraussetzungen dazu sind allerdings kaum erfüllt: Die hohe Sparquote der chinesischen Haushalte, das niedrige Niveau der sozialen Sicherung und die stark regulierten Finanzmärkte stehen einem raschen Wandel entgegen. Derzeit ist noch völlig offen, ob die chinesische Regierung die Transformation zur Konsumgesellschaft ohne größere Friktionen meistern kann. ; The Chinese model for economic growth is further transforming. While the rise in output was heavily based on investment and export activities in recent decades, private consumption is expected to become a driver for growth in the period ahead. However, the conditions for higher consumer demand of private households are not optimal: The savings rate is high, particularly driven by the low level of social security and highly regulated financial markets. Up to now, it is quite unclear whether the transformation towards a consumer society can be handled without major frictions.

The Chinese economic development affects GDP growth and inflation in the advanced countries. A GVAR approach is used to model the interdependencies between the business cycles in China and industrial countries, including the US, the euro area and Japan. For robustness, the results are compared to those obtained by leading structural econometric models, such as NiGEM and OEF. Evidence is based on the responses to a Chinese shock stemming from the recent fiscal stimulus package. The results indicate that the impact on GDP growth in the advanced economies is substantial for the Asian region. The expansionary effects to the US and the euro area responses are much lower and decrease due to rising inflation pressure. The analysis also reveals that China is still highly vulnerable to shocks in industrial countries, including the government debt crisis in the euro area.

The Greek government budget situation plays a central role in the debt crisis in the euro area. The debt to GDP ratio is above 150 percent, while the deficit to GDP ratio exceeds 10 percent. To re-establish the Maastricht criteria, respectively, strong consolidation measures need to be implemented, with potential adverse effects on the Greek economy, and further credit requirements. Therefore, a debt conversion might become a reasonable alternative. The aim of this paper is to provide some simulation-based calculations on the expected fiscal costs for the governments in the large European countries Germany, France, Spain and Italy arising from different policy options - among them a potential second Greek rescue package. Under realistic conditions, a debt conversion may be the less costly strategy for Greece and the euro area partner states. A value-added of these calculations lies in a potential transfer to smaller euro area member countries.

The Greek government budget situation plays a central role in the debt crisis in the euro area. The debt to GDP ratio is above 150 percent, while the deficit to GDP ratio exceeds 10 percent. To re-establish the Maastricht criteria, respectively, strong consolidation measures need to be implemented, with potential adverse effects on the Greek economy, and further credit requirements. Therefore, a debt conversion might become a reasonable alternative. The aim of this paper is to provide some simulation-based calculations on the expected fiscal costs for the governments in the large European countries Germany, France, Spain and Italy arising from different policy options - among them a second Greek rescue package. Under realistic conditions, a debt conversion may be the less costly strategy for Greece and the euro area partner states. A value-added of these calculations lies in a potential transfer to smaller euro area member countries.

Von spekulativen Übertreibungen an den Vermögensmärkten können erhebliche makroökonomische Verluste für Produktion und Beschäftigung ausgehen. Solche Entwicklungen sollten möglichst frühzeitig und verlässlich erkannt werden, um eine Gegensteuerung durch entsprechende wirtschaftspolitische Maßnahmen zu ermöglichen. Diesem Ziel dient das Frühwarnsystem, welches das DIW Berlin im Auftrag des Bundesfinanzministeriums für den Immobilienmarkt entwickelt hat. Dieses Frühwarnsystem diagnostiziert spekulativ bedingte Preissprünge auf den Immobilienmärkten. Werden spekulative Preisbewegungen frühzeitig erkannt, bleiben der Wirtschaftspolitik Spielräume, um angemessen auf die Entwicklung zu reagieren und unter Umständen eine weitere Aufblähung der Blasen zu verhindern.