RUSSIA
GDP growth in Russia is projected to remain below 2 % this year. Growth will decelerate slightly next year to around 1.5 % as long as the oil price stays reasonably close to current levels. Growth of the economy will remain relatively slow as there are too few signs of moving ahead with market-friendly systemic reforms that are needed to foster higher growth. The rapid recovery of Russian imports from a deep slump slowed significantly in spring, and the revival is expected to continue at relatively slow pace during the forecast period.
China
China’s economic growth is slowing and the outlook has become more uncertain with the country’s rising indebtedness and turbulence from trade policy disputes with the United States. The country’s adherence to a GDP growth target further complicates economic policy as the stimulus needed to meet that target conflicts with government efforts to manage China’s burgeoning debt problems and to move ahead with economic reforms. Acknowledging that problems with China’ s statistical data make it hard to obtain a clear picture of economic conditions, we nevertheless hold to our earlier forecast that Chinese economic growth remains strong despite slowing to around 5 % p.a. in 2020, the final year in this forecast period. While China possesses resources to deal with many of the challenges it may encounter, the deterioration of economic conditions means that it is important to prepare also for a steeper slowdown in China’s growth than predicted in our baseline forecast.
For further information
Russia: Senior Economist Vesa Korhonen
tel. +358 9 183 3440 / vesa.korhonen(at)bof.fi
China: Adviser Jouko Rautava
tel. +358 9 183 2280 / jouko.rautava(at)bof.fi
Russia and China: BOFIT Head Iikka Korhonen
tel. +358 9 183 2272 / iikka.korhonen(at)bof.fi