Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2013)
THE ROLE OF SAVINGS RATE IN DEEPENING MACROECONOMIC IMBALANCES IN CHINA
Abstract
It is well known that China is a growing power and its impressive economic indicators have been the subject of numerous studies along the years. China’s impressive economics growth in the years 2000 based on one hand by an expansionary monetary policy, on other hand by promoting export growth had also brought into discussion another factor: that of the high savings rate. This article brings into light China’s high savings rate -household, corporate and governmental- each with its role played in the entire equation of China’s growth. There have been a lot of studies concentrating on this relationship between savings rate and economic growth. It appears that, in the case of China there is a positive relationship between high savings and high economic growth at least on the short run. This is due to the national savings rate which contributed to current account surplus that facilitated outflow and inflow of capital. Domestic investments and foreign growth had contributed to rapid economic growth despite the low level of consumption. If we add here the low demand for imported goods and the growth of households saving rate in the last year we have an image of deep macroeconomic imbalances. Furthermore, if we add to this analysis the idea of an external saving rate that proved to grow quicker than the world capacity to absorb this flows we have a vivid image of an empire as „rich country, poor population”. This high savings rate in the long run will deepen macroeconomic imbalances. As a spiral this would have to accelerate reforms in the field of pensions, healthcare, social security. On top they would have to encourage the development of the banking system in order to create an image of a powerful country also in the long run. With these internal reforms the savings rate for households will encourage consumption and a normal level of savings, for corporations it will boost investments and for government it will lead to a balance account closer to reality and better use of the incomes.
