Integrated but uncoordinated: Real economies in Asia in the era of financial liberalisation Jayati Ghosh IDEAs Conference Muttukadu January 2015
Savings and investment rates and GDP growth
Financial indicators and investment rates % of GDP
Malaysian financial system in 2011
Composition of bank lending in Malaysia, 2011
Composition of bank loans in Malaysia
Lending to households in Malaysia
Indonesia Financial system assets
Indonesia distribution of loans
South Korea Household debt (Currently more than 156% of HH disposable income)
Lessons Financial deepening does not have a positive effect on investment and real economic growth, but can generate savings “surpluses” that are then exported. Domestic growth is increasingly sustained by consumer credit that fuels housing and real estate booms. This is obviously unsustainable and indeed the downturn has already begun. Unravelling of household debt has knock-on effect on bank viability and on investment. Downward pressure on economic activity cannot be countered by further financial deregulation, but attempts at tightening regulation add to the pressure. Absence of co-ordination across countries further complicates the problems because of cross-border capital flows.