Page 19 - CII Artha Magazine 1
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Global Trends
 The monthly trends also show   B. LAGGARDS  Faster-than-expected   OVID-19 is far from
 that public spending is   normalisation of the US   C over. Just as the global   Trajectory of Real GDP Growth (y-o-y%)  down their accommodative   Key Policy Rates (%)
 progressing at a rapid clip. As   Consumption demand   monetary stimulus   economy started to settle   23.6  stance and resume tightening   5.0
 per the latest data available on   continues to move at                        18.3      of policy rates in the near                                                      4.3
 CGA, capital spending for   snail’s pace  During the COVID-19   around a very damaging Delta   12.2  14.2  future. Bank of England has   4.0                             3.9
 April-November FY22 stood   pandemic, the US Federal   variant, Omicron has emerged   4.9  6.6  7.6  4.9  6.5  7.9  already raised the policy rate   3.0
 at Rs 2.73 lakh crore, which is   The disaggregated picture   Reserve brought short-term   as the new threat. Given the   0.5  3.7  1.4  4.9  2.3
 13.5 per cent higher in   from the demand side shows   interest rates to near-zero   emergence of new COVID   -2.9 -2.3  -5.8  -4.0 -4.4 -1.2  -5.5 -0.9 -1.3  by 15 basis points in   2.0
 year-on-year terms and   that private final consumption   and restarted large-scale   variants and the uncertainty   -8.1 -7.1  December 2021.
 represents 49.4 per cent of   expenditure (PFCE) continues   bond purchases, referred to   about the timelines of the           1.0            0.8
 the budgeted spend for the   to move at snail’s pace and   as Quantitative Easing (QE). It   pandemic, the IMF has said   Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2020  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  0.3
 current fiscal. Notably, it is 28.0   trails pre-pandemic levels. It   helped in sharply bringing   that it may downgrade global   US  UK  Eurozone  Japan  China  The Uptrend in Global   0.0  0.1  0.0  -0.1
 per cent higher than the same   grew at a slower rate of 8.6   down the borrowing costs,   growth projections as the   Commodity Prices in   US  UK  Eurozone  Japan    China
                                                       Source: National Sources
 period in the pre-pandemic   per cent in the Q2FY22 as   which cushioned the   more contagious Omicron   Note: The years in the graph refer to Calendar Year (Jan-Dec)  2021  -1.0
 year of 2019-20. While the   compared to 19.3 per cent in   economic recovery process  variant could dent confidence,                           Q3 2019  Q3 2020  Q3 2021
 progress so far has been good,   the previous quarter as   in the US.   higher inflation.   After the sharp and sudden                             Source: National Sources
 to achieve the budgeted capital   impact of a favourable base   even though it is not as fatal   variant necessitating   fall in commodity prices in
 expenditure of Rs 5.5 lakh   effect waned. With this, the   However, in his recent   as the preceding Delta variant.  lockdowns in many global   Consequently, major   2020, prices resurged in 2021
                                                              economies, across the board,
                                   economies which was further
 TAKING STOCK   heartening to note that the   A. DRIVERS OF GROWTH  crore, the capex push by the   Sectors such as Transport   In absolute terms, the   consumption spending grew   remarks, the Federal Reserve   exacerbated by the   have seen an uptrend in   driven by an uptick in demand   Moving ahead, trade (exports   and as per the World Trade
                                                                                          while supply struggled to keep

 government needs to be
 by 13.5 per cent in the first


                                                                                                                                                            Organization (WTO) global
                                                                                                                               and imports) registered a
 merchandise exports have
 services, Construction &
 Chair Jerome Powell has
 real GDP in absolute terms at
                                                              inflation during 2021, with the
                                   supply-side disruptions.
 OF THE YEAR   Rs 35.7 lakh crore in the   Public investment   sustained. One of the ways to   Real Estate, Metals & Metals   reached a cumulative value   half of the current fiscal.   indicated that the Fed will   GLOBAL ECONOMIES   latest third quarter data   pace. In 2021, commodity   sharp recovery in 2021   trade volumes are expected
                                                                                          markets have been impacted
         ON THE MEND;
 do so is to expedite the
 However, encouragingly,



 Products and Chemicals &
 of US$299.7 billion between
                                                                                                                               backed by the resumption in
                                                                                                                                                            to rise by 10.8 per cent in
 continues to do the
 start tapering its bond
 second quarter of this fiscal
 has crossed the pre-pandemic   heavy lifting as the key   projects delineated under the   Chemical Products, where   April-December 2021,   private consumption is now   purchases soon in order to   REACHING CLOSE TO   With a resumption in   indicating a further increase in   by the adverse weather   business activity and strong   2021, followed by a 4.7 per
                                                                                          conditions, with droughts in
 National Infrastructure
 at 96 per cent of the
                                                              prices across all advanced
                                   business activity, inflation has



 sustained demand recovery is
 The GDP print during   levels of Rs 35.6 lakh crore   demand-side driver of   Pipeline (NIP), which are   visible, are driving the recovery in   which amounts to 75 per   pre-pandemic level.   keep inflation in check.  This is   PE-PANDEMIC LEVELS  also gathered pace. Global   economies.  some parts of the world   demand from businesses and   cent increase in 2022.
 the economy
 Q1FY22 showed that the   seen in the second quarter of   nearing completion.  private investment and account   cent of the US$400 billion   likely to have repercussions on   supply chain issues, which   affecting few agricultural
 economy expanded by an   2019-20.   An analysis of the second   for nearly 62 per cent of total   export target set up by the   Supply-chain bottlenecks   interest rates globally, thus   started in 2020 with   Many countries are now   commodities and reducing   Overall, key global economies


 government.
 impressive 20.1 per cent -   quarter of this fiscal shows   Encouragingly, capital spending   private investment spending by   stifling growth impulses  affecting foreign inflows to   hydroelectricity supply while   INTERNATIONAL   are poised for a recovery in
 testifying that the green   From supply-side basis, real   that public investment has   by the government across key   end of third quarter.  Industrial sectors such as   emerging economies like India.   In the past year, major   countries imposing strict   trying to balance the tight   floods in other areas have   TRADE RECOUPS ON   2021 and while the upward


 shoots of economic recovery   gross value added (GVA)   continued to do the heavy   infrastructure sectors has   engineering goods,   Supply-side bottlenecks   However, compared to 2013,   economies around the globe   lockdowns, are still creating   rope walk between   impacted the supply of some   RECOVERY IN   momentum is likely to
 are slowly but surely   stood at 8.5 per cent in   lifting as it bounced back to   remained healthy at Rs 1.81   Healthy exports also   petroleum products and   especially related to coal and   the Fed is being more cautious   have managed to regain some   supply-side bottlenecks as   controlling inflation and   metals and coal.   ECONOMIC ACTIVITY   continue in the next year as
 becoming visible. However,   Q2FY22 as compared to 18.8   the pre-pandemic levels in   lakh crore in the period   remain an enabler for   organic & inorganic   global shortage of   in normalisation this time,   momentum and reached close   demand for goods has surged.   supporting growth, but with   well, we may see a
 growth for the second quarter   per cent in the previous   Q2FY22. Gross fixed capital   April-November FY22 which   growth in the current fiscal    chemicals have driven the   semiconductors in the   prioritising economic recovery   to pre-pandemic levels of   Further, the uptrend in   limited monetary policy   Further, the uneven recovery   AND STRONG DEMAND  moderation in the growth
 of the current fiscal (Q2FY22)   quarter.  formation (GFCF) was up   translates into a healthy 61.7   bulk of the rise in export   automobile sector affected   even as inflation remains above   economic activity. The US   commodity prices, especially   armor. Till now, central banks   from the COVID-19   rates. With regard to inflation,
 moderated to 8.4 per cent,   11.0 per cent in the second   per cent growth in   Global recovery, helped by   growth in this fiscal so far.   the growth of the industrial   the target. The impact of Fed   economy expanded at an   fuel, have raised price   across the globe have   pandemic as well as its   as demand recovers further,
 which is primarily attributed   Having taken stock of the   quarter, largely supported by   year-on-year terms over  the   rapid pace of vaccination, has   Encouragingly, the   sector, especially the MSMEs.    taper will not be akin to the   average rate of 5.9 per cent in   pressures globally resulting in   maintained an accommodative   resultant supply chain   households alike. Globally, all   cost-push inflation is likely to
 central spending, taking
 to waning of a favourable base   economy, we now bucket the   growth to 28.3 per cent in   comparable period last year.   boosted India’s external   labour-intensive sector like   This got mirrored in the   2013 taper tantrum episode,   2021 so far (Jan-Sept), after   monetary policy stance,   disruptions have also   major economies reported an   firm up resulting in
 of last year.   movers and shakers of growth   the first half of the current   demand. Consequently, exports   gems & jewellery has also   passenger vehicle sales   given India’s strong external   contracting by 3.4 per cent   keeping the policy rates   contributed to volatility in   uptrend in trade in 2021,   inflationary pressures
 into the two broad heads of   Out of the key infra sectors,   have emerged as a critical   declining in double digits by   fundamentals, especially on the   INFLATIONARY   commodity prices, among   despite supply-side   gathering momentum. This is
 DRIVERS and LAGGARDS   fiscal as compared to 8.6 per   Shipping, Road Transport &   driver of growth in the current   seen robust growth during   18.6 per cent for the third   external front.  last year, with the latest data   PRESSURES HAVE   unchanged since last year to   which energy has recorded   constraints such as port   expected to nudge the major
 Notwithstanding, the   and analyse their performance   cent in the similar period in   this period.  indicating an expansion of 4.9   support growth. However, a
 deceleration in growth noted   below:  2019-20.  Highways, Housing & Urban   fiscal.   straight month in November   per cent in Q3 2021.   INTENSIFIED ON RISING   change in monetary policy   the biggest jump of around 80   backlogs and semi-conductor   central banks across the
 in the second quarter, it is   Affairs and Railways have so far   2021 despite strong demand   High global commodity   COMMODITY PRICES  stance is expected soon as   per cent since the start of   shortages.    world to reverse their
 seen higher cumulative   in the local market. This was   prices pressurise   & SUPPLY-SIDE   this year. Non-energy prices                                  accommodative monetary
 spending during the year as   the lowest sales in seven   corporate margins  Similarly, for other major   BOTTLENECKS  many countries look to wind   have also risen, primarily   Global merchandize trade   stance and tighten policy
 compared to last year.  years for passenger vehicles.   economies as well, opening of    driven by the surge in prices        touched its pre-pandemic     rates in the coming months.



 Global commodity prices   businesses has resulted in a                                   for agricultural commodities         peak in the first half of 2021
 There are many factors   have inched higher in the   pick-up in economic activity        as well as metal and minerals,
 Private capex, too, has   attributable for the grave   current year driven by an   with the Eurozone expanding   whereas the upward
 started showing signs of   semiconductor shortages   uptick in demand while supply   4.8  5.3  Headline Inflation Inching up (y-o-y%)  momentum in precious   Trajectory of the Trade Momentum (US$ billion)
 recovery as per CMIE’s   being felt currently worldwide.   has struggled to keep pace. In   by 5.6 per cent, UK by 8.1 per   metals has moderated - with   4000                500
 capex data  From the supply side, there   2021, commodity markets   cent, Japan by 2.6 per cent   2.8  2.9  the latest quarter indicating a   3000                             400
 are factors such as temporary   have been impacted by   and China by 10.4 per cent   2.0  1.8  2.3  decline in prices.
 As per CMIE’s capex data,   factory closures due to the   during the first three quarters   1.2 1.2  1.9  1.0  1.1  0.8                                                        300
 private capital expenditure   pandemic and disruptions in   adverse weather conditions,   of 2021.   0.6 0.5 0.6  0.0  0.0  0.1 0.0  2000                                      200
 (measured by the value of   supply as storms halted   with droughts in some parts   -0.3  -0.9 -0.5 -0.7 -0.2
 ongoing projects) stood at Rs   production facilities in the US   of the world affecting a few   However, during the latest   AS INFLATION HAS   1000                          100
 71.7 lakh crore at the end of   and Japan.  The demand-side   agricultural commodities and   quarter, Q3 2021, economies   SURGED, CENTRAL   0                                 0
 third quarter- higher than the   factors include huge backlog   reducing hydroelectricity   have seen a moderation in   Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2020  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  BANKS REMAIN   Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021  Q2 2021  Q3 2021  Q3 2020  Q4 2020  Q1 2021
 Rs 69.27 lakh crore print seen   of demand for chips due to   supply while floods in other   growth, as against the jump   US  UK  Eurozone  Japan  China  CAUTIOUS ON
 in the same period in FY21 and   the release of pent-up demand   areas has impacted the supply   seen in the second quarter.   INTEREST RATES  US  UK (RHS)  European Union  Japan (RHS)  China
 Rs 69.39 lakh crore seen in the   amongst others.   of certain metals and coal.  Source: National Sources                                        Source: National Sources & WTO
 pre-pandemic period of FY20.   The moderation is primarily
        due to the impact of the delta
        19   ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY                                                                                                                                               ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY  20
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
             QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
             DECEMBER 2021                                                                                                                                                                                                  DECEMBER 2021
 B. Deepening the   supported CAS (conditional
 Component Value Chain   access system) for set top
 across the entire   boxes.
 ecosystem
 Similarly, a global innovation
 The domestic electronics   challenge for designing of
 industry is characterised by   semiconductors and chip sets
 lack of a component   for educational tablets for the
 ecosystem which leads to its   masses could be encouraged.
 dependence on imports. High
 dependency on imported   Besides, the next focus should
 inputs raises cost and impedes   be on maximizing domestic
 competitiveness. A right mix   value addition and promoting
 of policy realignment coupled   Design in India, besides Make
 with new targets is required.     in India. For this, the
 know-how available with
 The government has, no doubt   Government owned R&D
 announced the PLI scheme for   laboratories should be made
 components. However, the 5-6   freely accessible to  industry,
 per cent incentive on   outsourced R&D needs to be
 incremental sales, envisaged   incentivized on the lines of
 under the scheme, is not   In-house R&D, Technology
 enough to achieve scale in this   Acquisition Fund be created
 sector and accordingly would   for liberal assistance in filing
 discourage manufacturers   patents and a Guarantee Fund
 from indigenizing production.   be created to help R&D
 Hence, the government should   houses to raise working
 review the scheme by   capital.
 expanding the incentive from
 the present 5-6 per cent and   D. Other Suggestions
 widen the eligibility criteria. A
 revamped PLI would facilitate   Similarly, the government
 scale economies from   should also look at other
 domestic production and also   options such as leveraging
 encourage SMEs to strengthen   upcoming FTAs (UK & the
 the supply chain and reduce   EU) towards enhancing
 our dependence on imports.  exports, incentivizing
 manufacture of products not
 C. Encouraging Design-led   currently produced in India,
 Manufacturing  facilitating EoDB, among
 others.
 For ensuring that the industry
 remains competitive (by   To conclude, a robust policy
 facilitating domestic IP   environment would help the
 creation), even after the PLI &   country to realise the huge
 other benefits expire, a push   opportunity awaiting India to
 to R&D is most essential. For   emerge as a global hub for
 this, the government should   electronics and meet the
 explore innovative solutions   targets envisioned in the NPE
 for the sector such as a model   2019.
 based on the Government led
 domestic manufacturers
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