China’s debt is a global problem
Date
2019
Authors
Grills, Ryan
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Volume Title
Publisher
Bachelor of Commerce Best Business Research Papers
Abstract
China’s presence as the catalyst for global growth has caused credit levels to rise sharply, causing government officials and institutional investors to take notice. China has been able to sustain their current level of debt, because of their high savings rate, strong growth rate, account surplus and low external debt, but those features are now weakening. As their growth rate slows, the existence of high levels of moral hazard has become increasingly evident. Large surplus of capital and the mentality that the central government will always cover the debt of local governments and state-owned enterprises, has led to rushed due diligence and investment in assets with little to no potential for returns. This paper starts by providing a background on how China became a highly leveraged nation, an overview of China’s credit developments and outlines their current credit size and structure. The research focuses on the debt taken on by the non-financial sector, and identifies key vulnerabilities in the economy and potential for systemic risk. This is followed by what the research findings means for the global market and recognizes key markets at risk. This paper concludes by making policy recommendations that will help increase China’s credit sustainability and assist in their transition from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development.
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Citation
Grills, R. (2019). China’s debt is a global problem. Bachelor of Commerce Best Business Research Papers, 12, 18–33.