Research Briefing | Sep 15, 2023

Is China headed for a Japanese-style balance sheet recession?

After the property and stock market bubble crash of the early 1990s, Japan spent almost a decade cleaning up its excesses in debt, production capacity, and employment across multiple industries. Now, China’s weak economic activity amid a housing correction has led many investors to draw comparisons with Japan’s balance sheet recession of the 1990s.

What you will learn:

  • Despite the different pathways, there are several similarities between China now and Japan then that may augur a similar future of a period of prolonged stagnation.
  • First, China looks to be repeating Japan’s mistake of avoiding early, decisive steps to clean up its balance sheets.
  • Second, like Japan in the 1990s, a more widespread loss of confidence among Chinese consumers and investors in the post-bubble growth model is also emerging.
  • Third, the demography of ageing is a key headwind for both in navigating to a consumption-led growth model.
Back to Resource Hub

Related Posts

Post

Japan’s worsening fiscal outlook raises risk of higher term premium

We expect Japan's fiscal outlook to deteriorate due to weak economic growth and pressure on the government to implement fiscal stimulus. We don't think deficit concerns drove the recent spike in ultra-long Japanese government bond (JGB) yields, but as domestic purchasers reduce their JGB holdings, long-term yields could become more sensitive to fiscal developments in the coming quarters, raising the risk of a higher term premium.

Find Out More
Toward a global carbon pricing system - Hinrich Foundation

Post

Toward a global carbon pricing system

Fragmented carbon markets and the risk of carbon leakage are jeopardizing progress toward global net-zero targets. A major challenge lies in the lack of coordinated policies to align around a unified carbon price. Oxford Economics, in a study for the Hinrich Foundation, highlights how regional carbon markets could offer a practical path toward more effective global pricing.

Find Out More
Mastering Thought Leadership

Post

Mastering Thought Leadership: Four Key Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Initiating a successful Thought Leadership program requires careful planning and coordination at the concept stage.

Find Out More