Donald Trump plan to boost Japan, says economist

For now, the global winds are at Japan’s back.

US president-elect Donald Trump’s promise to fire up growth by cutting taxes and developing a trillion dollars of infrastructure has helped fuel a dollar rally that has weakened the yen by nearly 8.5% since the day before the election, almost certainly bringing relief to Japanese policy makers.

Add rising oil prices, the likelihood of higher interest rates in the US and a global shift toward fiscal stimulus to spur growth, and you have a recipe for Japan’s economy gaining some traction next year.

“It could be a potentially good year for Japan if we get the ‘Trump the Keynesian’ scenario,” Paul Gruenwald, Asia-Pacific chief economist at S&P Global Rating said, referring to John Maynard Keynes, who advocated government spending to replace private demand in economic downswings.

A collapse in oil prices in 2014-15 and economic and political uncertainty throughout 2016, including the Brexit vote, countered the Bank of Japan’s efforts to generate inflation and growth through quantitative easing and a weaker yen.

It rose to nearly a three-year high this year, while the core consumer price gauge sank to a three-year low in negative territory.

With a more favourable environment, economists are raising their forecasts for Japan as well as the global economy.

Morgan Stanley said it sees growth of 1.3% next year and 0.9% in 2018 — well above the potential growth rate of about 0.3%.

It also forecasts inflation near 2% at end-2018, up from minus 0.4% in October. To be sure, the shift in markets has been driven by expectations that could go unfulfilled.

There is no guarantee that Mr Trump will be able to enact his policies, and even if he does, getting infrastructure projects off the ground can be difficult and slow.

The dollar rally may lose steam, or a flareup of global turmoil could see the haven yen quickly reverse and strengthen.

Yet other factors support a more upbeat outlook for Japan. Not least is its own fiscal stance.

In its forecasts, Morgan Stanley noted that a fiscal stimulus package passed by parliament in October, including money for infrastructure and earthquake relief, will be spent over the next two years.

Mr Trump’s spending promises, if realised, are expected to fuel demand for imports and related services — as well as inflation, higher US interest rates and a stronger dollar — a welcome scenario for Japanese exporters.

Bloomberg