A weak outlook for domestic demand in rapid-growth markets (RGMs), and subsequent weaker trade flows are expected to drive their GDP growth down next year according to EY’s quarterly Rapid-growth markets forecast (RGMF) out today.
Rain Newton-Smith, senior economic adviser to the EY Rapid-Growth Markets Forecast says, “Our forecast for the rapid-growth markets has been revised down significantly since July. Despite steady growth over the past few years the RGMs were hit hard by external pressures. Weaker domestic demand and concerns over structural weaknesses will also dampen growth.”
A flight from risk has driven sharp falls in many RGM currencies, sharp rises in bond yields and an underperformance of equities. RGMF now expects growth next year to be 4.7% considerably lower than the 5.7% that was predicted in the July forecast. The move is driven by downward revisions to Latin America and Asia.
Governments in emerging markets must introduce structural reforms and ease regulatory restrictions to restore investor confidence. There is an opportunity now to make progress as the U.S has recently delayed its quantitative easing program to next year and there is also increased buoyancy in the developed markets, which is resulting in capital flows into the rapid-growth markets. It is critical for the rapid-growth markets to take full advantage of the depreciation in their currencies for benefit of their export-oriented sectors and become more competitive with required shifts in policy.
Currency falls adding to RGM challenges
India, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil are struggling with sharp currency depreciation as well as having to tighten monetary policy despite weak growth as a result of external pressures. These countries as well as Argentina and Egypt all show elements of vulnerability to currency and other financial crises according to the RGMF heatmap of vulnerability for RGMs which ranks each country under seven indicators of risk.
The common challenges running through these countries are relatively high current account deficits, levels of government debt and inflation. Economic reforms will be necessary to help ensure sustainable growth going forward.
By contrast, countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have a more robust with low levels of government and external debt.
High inflation and borrowing weigh on investment and consumption
While some RGM currency and equity markets have started to recover, the impact of falls in many of the financial markets will be felt for some time. The fall in currencies and rise in risk premiums in the rapidly growing economies have added to the challenges for RGMs, especially as weaker currencies add to inflationary pressures.
The increases in bond yields and policy rates have led to much higher borrowing costs (in domestic and foreign currencies) – for RGM governments, businesses and households.
The higher cost of borrowing will translate into lower investment. Consumption will be hit by falls in financial wealth, the greater cost of consumer credit and higher prices for imported goods, particularly commodities. These challenges will all lead to much weaker than expected growth in the RGMs next year.
Prospects for China are brighter than for other BRICs
While the outlook for the majority of RGMs is subdued, prospects for China are looking bright. The lower rate of growth in China is part of a deliberate effort by government and central bank to curb the rapid growth in credit and set the economy on a more sustainable path. Financial sector reform and the development of the recently opened Shanghai free-trade zone are also key to spurring trade and innovation in China.
However, while the outlook for China is relatively positive there are significant challenges for the other BRIC nations. Brazil remains restricted by a low growth and high inflation dynamic, with inflation expected to be above 6% this year and growth well below 3%. Interest rates are also predicted to rise further which could hamper the investment growth.
RGMF forecasts that growth in Russia this year will be 1.4% significantly down from 2.7% envisaged in the July forecast. Although longer term GDP growth will rebound to close to 4% there remains concern about demographic profile and the limited pace of policy reform in certain areas.
GDP growth in India has dropped to 5% in 2012 compared to almost 9% in the years from 2005-10. Both inflation and the current account deficit remain high. Although announcements have been made to improve India’s efficiency in recent months however; to further improve India’s business environment greater infrastructure investment is required.
More policies required to boost medium-term growth
The forecast highlights that in too many of the RGMs policy focus has been too short-term in dealing with currency flows rather than looking towards medium-term growth. In addition, with some of the major RGMs facing elections over the next year it has been harder to build political consensus for economic reforms.
Over the next three years, we will see more divergences in growth prospects between those RGMs that are willing and able to implement growth-boosting economic reforms and those that are not.
While emerging markets don’t look that resilient anymore, the recession has ended at last in the Eurozone, Europe has enjoyed a period of relative financial stability during the last months, and a recovery – albeit a slow and painful one – is under way.
For Romania, IMF sees growth of 2% in 2013 and 2.2% in 2014, compared with 2.3% and 2,7% growth in 2013 and 2014, respectively, in the emergent economies from Europe, according to the last edition of IMF World Economic Outlook, from October 2013.
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