Free Trial

MNI INTERVIEW: APP End OK For Italy Eco If Tgts Hit: BOI Rossi

MNI (London)
--Italy Growth, Fiscal Targets Strictly Linked: BOI Dep Gov Rossi
--All Italy Govt Policies Need To Address Budget Constraints
By Silvia Marchetti
     ROME (MNI) - Italy's economy is in a fit state to weather the end of the
European Central Bank's asset purchase program provided that both growth and
fiscal targets are met, Bank of Italy Deputy Governor Salvatore Rossi told MNI
in an interview.
     "Under the assumption that the expected growth rates will be confirmed and
that fiscal policy remains prudent and credible, the Italian economy now has the
capacity of sustaining a progressive normalization of monetary policy," Rossi
said.
     According to latest BOI projections, GDP is set to grow 1.3% this year and
1.1% in 2019-20,  a slightly slower pace than seen in earlier January forecasts.
     Rossi also attempted to downplay concerns over the impact on household
balance sheets when the European Central Bank's Asset Purchase Programme comes
to an end, now likely at the end of this year.
     He noted that according to the bank's estimates, when APP terminates, if
financing costs of Italy's private sector increase by an additional 100 basis
points with respect to the current macroeconomic projections -- which already
assume a gradual increase -- the debt levels of households and firms would reach
12 and 28 percent respectively, values much lower than those seen during the
sovereign debt crisis of 2011.
     "Household consumption should be supported by the continuing improvement of
the labour market and low interest rates. The outlook for firms' investment will
benefit from rising demand perspectives, favourable financing conditions and
government incentives," Rossi said.
     Italy's recovery however is expected to continue in the near future
provided that favourable monetary and financial conditions, alongside further
improvements in global demand, prevail.
     --DOWNSIDE RISKS
     A number of downside risks exist, warned Rossi, both domestic and global.
"Those related to Italy's political scenario emerged recently," he noted, "while
other risks stem from economic and trade policies at the international level".
     In order to boost Italy's economic resilience, pursuing reforms is
therefore paramount, as productivity and employment should top the policy agenda
going forward. However, he stressed it must be in an ordered way.
     "Several structural reforms have been promoted in the last years, with some
success. It is essential now to proceed using a comprehensive approach, whereby
each measure is designed as part of a broader strategy in which goals,
implications and expected benefits are clarified at the outset," Rossi said.
     --CURBING DEBT
     Curbing public debt remains key to growth consolidation, particularly since
its weakness is a structural issue that clearly emerged before the crisis
outbreak.
     Despite noting that public finances are in a better shape than in the past
thanks to a series of reforms which structurally reduced the dynamics of current
expenditure, Rossi acknowledged that more needs to be done to reassure
investors, boost debt sustainability and by extension stability. In 2017 Italy's
net borrowing went down from 2.5 to 2.3% of GDP, and in May, the European
Commission forecast a further 0.6% decrease for 2018.
     "Reducing public debt is still a priority, and not only because it's a
European constraint, but first and foremost because high public debt is a source
of financial vulnerability and constitutes a drag on growth, absorbing resources
that could otherwise be used for other policies," the deputy governor said. 
     Every policy aiming at supporting growth must therefore take into full
account budgetary constraints," he added.
     Rossi pointed out how thanks to several reforms which have been enacted
since the early 1990s, the Italian pension system now stands out as one of the
most financially sound.
--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: M$E$$$,M$I$$$,M$X$$$,MC$$$$,MI$$$$,MX$$$$,M$$DR$,M$$EC$,MGX$$$]
MNI London Bureau | +44 203-865-3812 | les.commons@marketnews.com

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.