Page 54 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2024
P. 54

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK


































          US Treasury          Monetary policy is thus turning a corner, with an   (91%) and a lack of global collaboration (67%).
          Secretary Janet      expected return to loosening in most countries   The chief economists view domestic political
          Yellen (L) walks     and regions. In the US and Europe, nine out of 10   obstacles more as a challenge of leadership and
          with Governor of the
          People's Bank of     chief economists expect looser monetary policy   trust than a matter of broad-based opposition.
          China Pan Gongsheng   in the year ahead, and the majority expect looser   The lack of global collaboration is, in turn, also
          (R) as they meet at   monetary policy everywhere, aside from Central   undermined by domestic political trends (83%)
          The People’s Bank of
          China in Beijing,    Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.            but also strongly affected by geopolitical ten-
          China, 08 April      Eralp Denktas notes that ‘’More recent data flow   sions (91%).
          2024.
                               gives us more confidence that inflation figures   Srinivasa Rao Nagarjuna, Chief Economist &
          Credit:              are heading towards targets, and this will likely   President at Bajaj Finserv Limited, points out
          ΕPA/Tatan Syuflana   give some space to policymakers to reorient their   that “another major challenge which requires to
          / POOL
                               policy agenda towards activity and trade. So, the   be astutely navigated is the ongoing geopolitical
                               global recovery is set to continue.’’   conflicts which pose a risk to global economic
                               Ludovic Subran agrees that “abating inflation   stability. Finally, the current global financial con-
                               is a big plus as it really means that the normali-  ditions and the elevated debt levels across both
                               sation of everything, from monetary policy and   the advanced and developing economies pose a
                               supply chains to asset prices and bankruptcies, is   substantial threat to the overall macroeconomic
                               happening without too much havoc. It confirms   stability and require calibrated policy interven-
                               policy choices worked overall in spite of the dis-  tions by most of the governments to steer the
                               locations they may have created’’.      growth in the right direction’’.
                                                                       The chief economists were asked to assess
                               Prospects for a new growth agenda       whether a trade-off exists between growth and
                               When asked about the prospects for a new   four other potential policy goals: environmental
                               growth agenda, the chief economists’ responses   sustainability, economic equality, social cohesion
                               revealed a solid consensus on the importance   and national security.
                               of balancing growth with other policy priorities.   With regard to equality and security, only 12% of
                               Around two-thirds of respondents agree that pol-  respondents said a significant trade-off exists.
                               icymakers should prioritise economic growth,   That figure rises to 21% for social cohesion. Only
                               with a similar proportion agreeing that progress   environmental sustainability shows a meaningful
                               on other goals must be made, even if this exerts   split among respondents, with equal proportions
                               a drag on growth.                       of 44% agreeing and disagreeing that a trade-
                               Slowing growth and fiscal pressures among the   off exists.
                               challenges of addressing national and global   In conclusion, the report indicates that the lon-
                               crises                                  ger-term economic agenda is likely to be increas-
                               The main obstacles to achieving better balance   ingly shaped by these broader questions about
                               are a lack of domestic political consensus or will   what kind of growth is desirable and achievable.


         54
   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59