Report
Patrick Artus

Why does a long period of very low interest rates reduce growth?

The economic literature now provides several possible explanations why a long period of very low interest rates reduces growth instead of increasing it. An overly long period of very low interest rates: Reduce s banks’ capital (as intermediation margins falls), leading to a contraction in credit supply; Keeps inefficient, “zombie” companies on life support (thanks to the fall in their debt interest payments); Leads to an increase in market concentration (by facilitating the growth of the largest companies, by encouraging dominant companies to invest more), reducing the drive to improve productivity when monopoly positions appear . The demand stimulus that results from a fall in interest rates , if they remain very low for too long, can therefore be followed by a lasting fall in growth.
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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