Friday, September 04, 2009
[IWS] OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK -- INTERIM ASSESSMENT [3 September 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
What is the economic outlook for OECD countries? An interim assessment [3 September 2009]
http://www.oecd.org/document/25/0,3343,en_2649_34487_43605657_1_1_1_1,00.html
or
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/10/32/43615812.pdf
[full-text, 24 pages]
Includes numerous CHARTS & GRAPHS....
[excerpt]
1. Economic news has been mostly favourable over the past few months:
- Falls in the cost of money market funding, a narrowing of corporate bond spreads, a rebound in equity markets and a moderation in the tightening of bank lending standards have contributed to a marked improvement in overall financial conditions. Nonetheless, bank lending continues to decline and concerns about the health of the banking system remain.
- The housing markets in the United Kingdom and the United States show some signs of stabilisation, both as regards prices and turnover.
- The inventory adjustment underway since the beginning of the year appears to have progressed to a point where inventory changes may no longer be a drag on growth and could add to it in the near term. Similarly, global trade appears to have reached a trough and is poised to accelerate as the economic recovery gathers strength and broadens in scope.
- In the large emerging-market economies, which were not directly concerned by the meltdown in financial markets, the recovery in economic activity that began earlier this year is gaining momentum. Notably in China, GDP is estimated to have risen by over 14 per cent (saar) in the second quarter and activity continues to pick up, supported by the substantial fiscal stimulus and rapid increases in bank lending. GDP growth in other Asian emerging-market economies has also strongly rebounded, partly in response to policy stimulus.
2. Given the positive economic news and based on incoming high-frequency indicators, OECD short-term forecasting models point to an earlier recovery than envisaged a few months ago (see table opposite). As a consequence, the unprecedented rate of deterioration in labour market conditions witnessed over the past year should ease. Nonetheless, numerous headwinds imply that the pace of the recovery is likely to be modest for some time to come. Ample spare capacity, low levels of profitability, high and rising unemployment, anaemic growth in labour income and ongoing housing market corrections will moderate any uptick in private demand. At the same time, the need remains for households, businesses, financial institutions and governments to repair the damage to their balance sheets.
3. Substantial spare capacity and the collapse in commodity prices until mid-year have led to negative or zero headline inflation in all major economies. Increased economic slack has also damped somewhat measures of underlying inflation and will continue to act as a brake on inflation. Nonetheless, since inflation expectations remain well anchored and given the recent rebound in commodity prices, the risk of sustained deflation appears to be small outside Japan.
4. Substantial slack combined with the prospect for a weak recovery, implies that strong policy stimulus will continue to be needed in the near term. Regarding monetary policy, taking the first steps towards normalisation of policy interest rates from their current exceptionally low levels should in most cases and on current prospects wait until well into 2010 and in some cases even beyond. It is also important that central banks communicate their intentions explicitly, if conditionally, so as to affect interest rates at longer maturities more effectively. On fiscal policy, it is important that announced stimulus measures be implemented promptly. However, the possibility of a recovery taking hold a little sooner than envisaged only a few months ago diminishes the likelihood that further fiscal stimulus will be needed in those countries having scope for such action. Looking further ahead, OECD countries need to prepare for the removal of the exceptional degree of support afforded by current monetary and fiscal policy stances. In this regard, preparing credible exit strategies and fiscal consolidation plans now, even if actual implementation will only commence later, is desirable.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
What is the economic outlook for OECD countries? An interim assessment [3 September 2009]
http://www.oecd.org/document/25/0,3343,en_2649_34487_43605657_1_1_1_1,00.html
or
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/10/32/43615812.pdf
[full-text, 24 pages]
Includes numerous CHARTS & GRAPHS....
[excerpt]
1. Economic news has been mostly favourable over the past few months:
- Falls in the cost of money market funding, a narrowing of corporate bond spreads, a rebound in equity markets and a moderation in the tightening of bank lending standards have contributed to a marked improvement in overall financial conditions. Nonetheless, bank lending continues to decline and concerns about the health of the banking system remain.
- The housing markets in the United Kingdom and the United States show some signs of stabilisation, both as regards prices and turnover.
- The inventory adjustment underway since the beginning of the year appears to have progressed to a point where inventory changes may no longer be a drag on growth and could add to it in the near term. Similarly, global trade appears to have reached a trough and is poised to accelerate as the economic recovery gathers strength and broadens in scope.
- In the large emerging-market economies, which were not directly concerned by the meltdown in financial markets, the recovery in economic activity that began earlier this year is gaining momentum. Notably in China, GDP is estimated to have risen by over 14 per cent (saar) in the second quarter and activity continues to pick up, supported by the substantial fiscal stimulus and rapid increases in bank lending. GDP growth in other Asian emerging-market economies has also strongly rebounded, partly in response to policy stimulus.
2. Given the positive economic news and based on incoming high-frequency indicators, OECD short-term forecasting models point to an earlier recovery than envisaged a few months ago (see table opposite). As a consequence, the unprecedented rate of deterioration in labour market conditions witnessed over the past year should ease. Nonetheless, numerous headwinds imply that the pace of the recovery is likely to be modest for some time to come. Ample spare capacity, low levels of profitability, high and rising unemployment, anaemic growth in labour income and ongoing housing market corrections will moderate any uptick in private demand. At the same time, the need remains for households, businesses, financial institutions and governments to repair the damage to their balance sheets.
3. Substantial spare capacity and the collapse in commodity prices until mid-year have led to negative or zero headline inflation in all major economies. Increased economic slack has also damped somewhat measures of underlying inflation and will continue to act as a brake on inflation. Nonetheless, since inflation expectations remain well anchored and given the recent rebound in commodity prices, the risk of sustained deflation appears to be small outside Japan.
4. Substantial slack combined with the prospect for a weak recovery, implies that strong policy stimulus will continue to be needed in the near term. Regarding monetary policy, taking the first steps towards normalisation of policy interest rates from their current exceptionally low levels should in most cases and on current prospects wait until well into 2010 and in some cases even beyond. It is also important that central banks communicate their intentions explicitly, if conditionally, so as to affect interest rates at longer maturities more effectively. On fiscal policy, it is important that announced stimulus measures be implemented promptly. However, the possibility of a recovery taking hold a little sooner than envisaged only a few months ago diminishes the likelihood that further fiscal stimulus will be needed in those countries having scope for such action. Looking further ahead, OECD countries need to prepare for the removal of the exceptional degree of support afforded by current monetary and fiscal policy stances. In this regard, preparing credible exit strategies and fiscal consolidation plans now, even if actual implementation will only commence later, is desirable.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:56 AM
