Report
Patrick Artus

What happens when everything converges towards 0%?

In the euro zone we are seeing: Real potential growth and productivity gains that will come dangerously close to 0%; Very low inflation; Interest rates across all maturities close to 0%. So what happens when real growth, inflation and interest rates converge towards 0%? Real interest rates can no longer be made lower than real growth: monetary policy can no longer be made more expansionary; For the same reason, it becomes more difficult to use an expansionary fiscal policy than when real interest rates can be lower than real growth; There is no real wage flexibility, since lowering real wages relative to productivity requires lowering the nominal wage, which is difficult. In this economy, where everything converges towards 0%, it therefore becomes difficult to use all economic, monetary, fiscal and wage policies .
Provider
Natixis
Natixis

Based across the world’s leading financial centers, Natixis CIB Research offers an integrated view of the markets. The team provides support to inform Natixis clients’ investment and hedging decisions across all asset classes.

 

Analysts
Patrick Artus

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