Sat, Jan 24, 2009 page12

• Think tank forecasts 0.89% GDP growth

  BIG DROP The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research said the modest increase in GDP would be the result of cash infusions into the economy by the government

  • By Crystal Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  A Taipei-based think tank lowered its forecast for the nation’s GDP growth to 0.89 percent for this year, down from the 4.11 percent growth it predicted in early November, on falling exports that are expected to dampen private investment and consumer spending.

  The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER, 台經院) said government investment, which was estimated to rise 23.98 percent, would replace exports to sustain the minor economic growth.

  “With an export-dependent economy, the country’s not immune to the blow of the global financial crisis that is dampening demand for Taiwan consumer products,” TIER president David Hong (洪德生) told a morning news conference.

  “We expect the GDP growth for this year to narrow to 0.89 percent as the rapid decline in exports has prompted companies to halt or delay expansion, while consumers are tightening belts to cope with job uncertainty. The phenomenon is unfavorable to economic growth,” Hong said.

  Against the backdrop, the institute expected GDP to contract 0.83 percent and 0.48 percent in the first and second quarters, respectively, and climb 1.67 percent and 3.13 percent in the third and fourth quarters.

  Hong attributed the slow and modest recovery to the stimulus package that was expected to have an impact in the second half, if the government carried out various public works projects effectively.

  Private consumption, which accounts for 53 percent of the nation’s GDP, was forecast to edge up 0.67 percent this year, after posting a negative growth of 0.27 percent last year, the TIER report showed.

  Exports, critical to economic growth in recent years, were projected to post an annual 2.13 percent growth, the report said, putting the growth figure at minus 5.35 percent and minus 10.22 percent for the first quarter and second quarter, respectively.

  Foreign sales were forecast to advance 8.98 percent and 19.15 percent in the third and fourth quarter, the report said.

  Chen Miao (陳淼), director of TIER’s macroeconomic forecasting center, said he believed the worst period of the financial crisis was over and the global recession would come to an end this year.

  “I believe exports will regain momentum in the second half while economic data will show improvement, owing partly to low base figures last year,” Chen said.

  The economist said there was room for upward adjustment as his institute did not factor in the consumer voucher program when updating the GDP forecast.

  Before the expected recovery, the business climate grew drabber still as seen in TIER’s monthly survey.

  The business climate gauge stood at 75.96 points last month, from 78.01 points in November, the report showed. This is the lowest figure since the institute initiated the survey in March 1979, Chen said.

  However, companies bearish about their business prospects dropped 3.6 percent, while firms with bullish sentiment increased from 4.9 percent to 13 percent. Respondents with neutral views rose from 28.4 percent to 40 percent.

  “Most respondents say the situation turned out better than expected though firms in the high-tech sector did not share the optimism,” Chen said.
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