Professional opinion In India is more sharply divided: Govinda Rao (ex ANU) and Shankar Acharya have cautioned against excessive fiscal adventurism. Based on the supplementary budget recently passed by Parliament, they argue that substantial incremental fiscal stimulus has already been applied. In contrast, Abheek Baruah and Surjit Bhalla are of the view that matters are sufficiently dire, even in India, that no restraint is called for, and that, as in the case of the United States, forceful pre-emptive action now will actually prove cost-effective in the medium run. While these observations primarily apply to fiscal policy, voices from industry are arguing for continued aggressive monetary easing, in line, once again, with what we are seeing in the advanced economies.
These are extraordinary times for the global economy. But as I argued last month, [LINK] there are significant risks involved in developing policy ‘on the hoof’, without a clearly articulated framework. These risks are of at least two kinds: first, as already mentioned, the risk that government will be pressured by special interests; and second, that poor communication in the present environment could lead to unnecessary panic, uncertainty, or even a speculative attack.
For all the imperfections in its implementation, the macro framework in place until the Budget in February 2008 was a stool with three legs. These were the targets of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act; a flexible but managed nominal exchange rate with a medium-term target for some measure of the real exchange rate; and sterilised intervention designed to deliver steady growth in some composite measure of monetary conditions.
Over the past two years this framework was used to accommodate two major, partially offsetting shocks to the economy. These shocks were, first, the large and rising inflow of capital (until the end of last year); and second the large terms of trade shock symbolised by the rise in the price of many commodities, particularly oil. These shocks were in effect accommodated by the twin mechanisms of an appreciation of the real exchange rate, and its counterpart on the “real” side, namely a widening current account deficit.
Today, these shocks are being reversed. While capital is certainly exiting, it is more difficult to be sure what is happening to the terms of trade. While commodity prices are sharply down, the deep deterioration in foreign demand for labour-intensive tradable goods will undoubtedly have an impact on their world price. Perhaps the best assumption would be that the terms of trade might improve slightly, if at all. The question for macroeconomic policy is what elements of the above framework, if any, now need modification, to what degree and through what mix of policies.
This is where the local and the global can and should fit together. Policy over the next twelve months needs to be driven by the goal of targeting a pre-announced level of the current account deficit on the balance of payments, somewhere in the range of 2-3 per cent of targeted GDP. This would help India make an explicit commitment to sustaining global demand, without prejudging whether this contribution is to be made by boosting public investment or supporting private investment. It would also be a target sufficiently concrete to reassure those concerned about India’s financing risk, while being flexible enough to allow public investment to replace private investment should the need arise, without taking actions (such as excessive fiscal stimulus) which might crowd out private investment, by flooding the banks with too many safe government bonds.
Judged by this yardstick how might one assess the adequacy of last weekend’s measures, and whether there is likely to be a need for additional action? It is clear that the government is right to give primacy to easing monetary policy, as that is the tool most likely to stimulate investment and to help households and corporations build up liquidity. Here, the question is whether we need to be worried about any lower limit in terms of the speed or amount of easing. Our approach so far, once the inflation threat had receded, has been to ‘cross the river by feeling the stones’. The main reason for taking incremental steps is to leave some reserve for future shocks. But in general the risks of more rapid easing seem to me to be relatively low, despite the high measured inflation rate.
As against this, I find myself siding with those who urge caution on the fiscal side. This not just because of our high debt stock and concerns of debt sustainability at the lower growth rates that now seem more probable, nor particularly because our government spends less well than the private sector. It is mainly because there is greater risk of crowding out than crowding in private investment through aggressive public investment, and maintaining a helpful climate for private investment remains the highest priority.