Abe says Japan to compile US$265 bln stimulus, puts policy pressure on BOJ
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday his government would compile a stimulus package of more than US$ 265 billion to reflate the flagging economy, media reported, though it is unclear how much will be spent to directly boost growth.
The premier’s 28 trillion yen ( US$ 265.30 billion) stimulus package, which exceeds initial estimates of around 20 trillion yen, includes 13 trillion yen in “fiscal measures,” Jiji reported.
Those measures are likely to include spending by national and local governments, as well as loan programmes.
Abe’s announcement, via a speech in southern Japan, came earlier than expected and pressures the Bank of Japan to match his big spending plan with additional monetary easing at its closely-watched rate review ending on Friday.
“The amount is so large that the stimulus package is bound to have a big economic impact.
“It is impossible to spend this much money in one extra budget, so this may take place over the next few years,” said Hiroshi Miyazaki, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
“The BOJ is likely to ease policy, including increasing government debt purchases, so you could say the BOJ can absorb the new debt.
It also makes it easier to show that the BOJ and the government are working together.” Details of the package will be announced by the government next week, Abe was quoted by Jiji as saying.
Many central bank policymakers prefer to put off taking action as they expect the anticipated fiscal stimulus package, and a delay in implementing the next sales tax hike, to boost growth and brighten the prospects for hitting their 2 per cent inflation target.
But yen moves and political considerations could be decisive factors for BOJ policymakers agonizing over whether to expand stimulus yet again or to save their dwindling policy resources for when the economy takes a turn for the worse. — Reuters