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Some comments on the recent deceleration in Indian economy

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It is now generally accepted that the distress in the automobile, textile and diamond industry, thaw in the information technology sector and the declining manufacturing sector characterize the slowdown prevailing for some time now. Consumption, which has been the main life-blood and the driving force of the Indian economy, has remarkably slowed down in the recent months in the absence of credit supply to the SMEs particularly in the informal sector and already suffering rural economy. Non-Banking financial companies NBFC, which used to be the prime lender to the informal sector, has been going through a liquidity crisis. There is a cash crunch. It is affecting the farm and wholesale sectors. Job losses and high unemployment have also led to a fall in demand.

Even the country’s rich are affected, according to Hurun India Rich List 2019 and their cumulative wealth dropped by Rs 3,72,800 crore. The list indicates tough competition among the rich and also that their industries have been hit by the economic slowdown. Further, the Big Corporates are drowning in debt that they accumulated during the Boom Years of the first decade of the 21st century. There is also a global economic slowdown that is happening and given the fact that India is a net commodity exporter, there has been a decline in the value of exports. In short, the meltdown is all-encompassing.

Govt’s attempts to encourage more retail credit flows and energize aggregate demand by injecting $ 10 billion into banks as well as the promised quick disbursal of tax refunds and vendor payments to the private sector, should help improve the economic sentiments.

The cut in corporate tax rates from 35 per cent to 25 per cent is welcome but, in fact, with depreciation and other adjustments, the corporates for the last over two decades have not been paying more than 22.5 per cent income tax. The supposed relief of Rs 1.45 lakh crore could, therefore, turn out to be much less. Yet, there will be considerable additional cash inflow to the producers/suppliers increasing their return on investment which may enable some price cut. But it would not add much to the consumer demand which would have happened if the cut was instead on individual income tax. In any case, the corporate tax cut will facilitate better business confidence and trust in govt. and also the significant inflow of foreign and domestic capital.

The RBI announced rate cuts lowering cost of credit and also a relaxation in risk weights for all consumer loans, except for credit card receivables. A reduction in risk weights means the banks will have to set aside lesser funds to provide for these loans, thus ensuring better credit flow to these sectors at lower rates. The risk weight for this segment was higher than what was mandated by Basel norms and was actually brought in a few years ago when this segment saw excessive lending.

The govt. has initiated measures like the withdrawal of the bad taxes on capital gains and start-up funding. These and its attempts to encourage more retail credit flows and energize aggregate demand by injecting $ 10 billion into banks as well as the promised quick disbursal of tax refunds and vendor payments to the private sector, should help improve the economic sentiments.

The recovery is possible through increasing govt. spending urgently in all the affected sectors, in expediting infrastructure projects and in encouraging investment in export-oriented, value-added products particularly by foreign investors with access to export market so that both domestic and export demand get stimulated and investment too, goes up thereby expanding the economic activity in the economy.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

View Comments

  • In my opinion, Indian economy was a savings driven one, and it will be as such. Hence the remedy prescribed will work for the benefit of big Corporates only, but not the masses nor middle class. After all, after making quite long journey with a free market economy and Globalisation, not everything is in the hands of the Govt. The best it can do now is to cut non-plan expenditure, corruption in the delivery system, incentivise public savings, increase in infrastructure spending, rather than cutting taxes on big Corporates. If necessary, it can declare an economic emergency to enforce discipline in the organised work force, cut some of their holidays and increase productivity, and mobilise more resources.

  • Major issue in indian business system is not HONOURING payments to suppliers in time, be it traders, SMEs or sub contractors. State govnts dont pay, civil contractors, power generating companies, civic services etc etc. PSUs and Big corporates encourage monetery slaves and SMEs are made white collared beggers. Payment disputes take years in courts. Unless the indian business mindset changes, the country cannot become economic power.
    Most of the state govnt trap SMEs promising incentives which are either not honoured or paid after the unit becomes sick. For ex Telengana govnt has to pay 2800 Cr incentives to SMEs and in fact no incentives were released after the state was formed. Why can't centre intervene , pay direct to SMEs from GST share of the state ?
    We have a positive FM and i hope things will improve in furure.

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