FINANCE

China's Finance Minister Hints at Future Economic Boosts

Beijing, ChinaSat Oct 12 2024
China's Finance Minister, Lan Fo'an, recently suggested that there's room for more economic stimulus, but he didn't reveal any specific plans. This could mean new steps to boost the economy in the future, but what those might be is still a mystery. China's economy hasn't been doing great even after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Companies aren't hiring much, wages are low, and the property market is struggling, which makes people less confident about spending. The government has tried to help by raising pensions and giving subsidies for new cars and appliances, but it hasn't been enough to kickstart growth. In late September, the central bank and other government agencies announced some moves to help the property sector and financial markets. This caused a temporary rise in stock markets, but the excitement faded quickly. People were hoping for a big stimulus package worth up to 2 trillion yuan ($280 million), but it didn't happen. Instead, the government plans to speed up existing policies. This includes giving more scholarships to students, issuing bonds to help banks, and supporting local governments that are really in debt. Some of these governments have had to cut back on public services, so this extra help could be important.

questions

    If the new measures are just incremental, should we expect a marathon or a sprint for economic recovery?
    Is the government hiding a secret stimulus plan from the public?
    What kind of support will highly indebted local governments receive?

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