China ponders need for a stimulus package
There’s word this week from China that a lot of new infrastructure spending could be in the works, on everything from railroads to health care. The Chinese government is trying desperately to kickstart the economy, which has been slowing down for almost two years. There’s been a lot of talk in Beijing, but no action. So far, China’s government’s taking the stance that no stimulus may be the best stimulus.
Andy Rothman is a Shanghai-based economist and says, “The leadership transition is coming up sometime in the fall. Any kind of stimulus takes a fair amount of time to kick in. If the party leadership felt a hard landing was on the horizon, I think they would’ve already reacted.” He’s confident China’s plan to maintain public infrastructure funding and to relax restrictions on the housing market will soon increase growth.
But that doesn’t mean China will return to its glory days. “The decade of double-digit GDP growth is gone. And we’re also, in particular, looking at a lot slower construction activity.”
Not to mention tough times for anyone exporting to the EU or the U.S. Still, says Rothman, as home sales pick up again in China, so, too, will consumption of U.S.-brand cars, phones and clothes.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
