Economic Update
After a contraction in Q1, we project subdued economic growth in Q2 and a pronounced recovery in the second half of the year. It will take until mid-2023 before Spain’s GDP will reach its pre-COVID level, provided that the vaccination pace accelerates.
Special
The ECB has acquired a large part of the public debt of EMUs member states. This debt has lost its monetary significance. It would be a big mistake of future fiscal policy doesn't take this into account.
Economic Report
China’s Q1 GDP growth surged to 18.3% on a year-to-year basis, mainly due to the low base in Q1 2020. We think the pace of the recovery will slow as the initial pent up demand in China dies out and policy support is scaled back.
Special
Advanced G20 countries have really fired up the cash cannon compared to emerging G20 economies during Covid-19. But without this sizeable government spending by both the advanced and the emerging G20 countries, G20’s total contraction could have been four times more severe.
Economic Report
President Biden has presented his American Jobs Plan, which amounts to about $2 trillion in spending on infrastructure and care. This should be financed by raising the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21% and by other tax measures aimed at corporations.
Economic Comment
The rising tensions between China, the EU, US, UK and Canada could have wide implications, from hurting the chances of ratifying the recent EU China investment deal to effects on the global supply of cotton.
Economic Report
India showed 0.4% GDP growth in Q3 of FY21. Unfortunately a second wave of Covid cases is on the rise, which might hamper growth in the next months. Although vaccine implementation started mid-January, the pace of vaccination must accelerate if India is to reap economic benefits in 2021. Fortunately, availability of vaccines is not a constraint.
