在新冠疫情復(fù)蘇約兩年半后,世界經(jīng)濟(jì)正面臨新一輪衰退。從表面上看,全球經(jīng)濟(jì)受到多重不利因素的沖擊,其中最主要的不利因素是通脹,而戰(zhàn)爭對全球能源價(jià)格的影響加劇了通脹,導(dǎo)致實(shí)際收入減少,同時(shí)推高了利率。
即便如此,美國、歐洲和亞洲這三大主要經(jīng)濟(jì)地區(qū)面臨的挑戰(zhàn)也截然不同,尤其是因?yàn)樯鲜霾焕蛩夭⒉幌窨瓷先ツ菢邮侨蛐缘摹?/p>
為了了解不同的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)及其可能出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī),我們應(yīng)該提醒自己注意每個(gè)地區(qū)的周期性驅(qū)動(dòng)因素和結(jié)構(gòu)性背景。與美國相比,歐元區(qū)在短期內(nèi)受到更嚴(yán)重的經(jīng)濟(jì)逆風(fēng)打擊,但由于美國面臨的挑戰(zhàn)可能會(huì)更加持久,歐元區(qū)的命運(yùn)在2023年可能會(huì)出現(xiàn)逆轉(zhuǎn)。與此同時(shí),由于衰退風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來相對較低,日本和中國這兩個(gè)亞洲最大的經(jīng)濟(jì)體在短期內(nèi)處于最有利的位置。然而,從長遠(yuǎn)來看,亞洲的新舊結(jié)構(gòu)性挑戰(zhàn)都可能使其增長風(fēng)險(xiǎn)高于西方。
歐洲風(fēng)險(xiǎn)今年見頂,美國風(fēng)險(xiǎn)明年見頂
盡管美國和歐洲都面臨著經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的高風(fēng)險(xiǎn)——遠(yuǎn)高于亞洲經(jīng)濟(jì)體——但這些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)在程度和種類上有所不同。是的,能源沖擊是全球性的,但在歐洲,能源價(jià)格本身就可能導(dǎo)致經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退。盡管美國的能源結(jié)構(gòu)比歐洲更依賴天然氣,但自2021年年初以來,歐洲的天然氣現(xiàn)貨價(jià)格上漲了15倍以上,相比之下,美國4倍的漲幅顯得微不足道。
這種不同的能源沖擊在美國轉(zhuǎn)化為重大的宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)逆風(fēng),但在歐洲則轉(zhuǎn)化為更加嚴(yán)重的沖擊,削弱了實(shí)際收入和消費(fèi)能力。它還侵蝕了工業(yè)競爭力,而這種競爭力在一定程度上是由于長期以來能源價(jià)格低廉而獲得的。
但歐洲更容易受到俄羅斯對能源的地緣政治利用的影響,這只是其中一個(gè)劣勢——?dú)W元區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)體的韌性也不如美國。
與美國的消費(fèi)者一樣,歐洲的消費(fèi)者在面對經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷時(shí)的心態(tài)相對較好。在大西洋兩岸,由于現(xiàn)金持有速度加快,家庭資產(chǎn)負(fù)債表比新冠疫情前好得多。但美國家庭的現(xiàn)金持有速度增長更快,這是因?yàn)槊绹鴮?shí)施了大規(guī)模財(cái)政刺激計(jì)劃。同樣,這兩個(gè)地區(qū)的勞動(dòng)力市場都很強(qiáng)勁,這反映了一些不太可能受到能源沖擊影響的因素——但美國勞動(dòng)力市場也特別緊張,美國員工的工資增長也更加強(qiáng)勁。
同樣,美國公司的韌性更強(qiáng)。美國和歐洲的利潤水平都很強(qiáng)勁,但美國的營業(yè)利潤率接近30年來的最高水平,而歐洲的營業(yè)利潤率高于10多年來的水平,但還沒有達(dá)到2008年全球金融危機(jī)前的水平。隨著需求疲軟,投入價(jià)格(包括商品價(jià)格和日益增長的勞動(dòng)力價(jià)格)將難以傳導(dǎo),美國和歐洲的營業(yè)利潤率都將受到擠壓。
明年命運(yùn)會(huì)逆轉(zhuǎn)嗎?
鑒于歐洲受到更大的沖擊和本身較弱的韌性,歐洲面臨的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)似乎更大——但這僅限于短期內(nèi)的衰退風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。雖然到2022年年底,美國明顯處于有利地位,但到2023年年底,這種情況可能會(huì)出現(xiàn)逆轉(zhuǎn)。
在歐洲,可以合理地預(yù)期,能源逆風(fēng)將在今年冬天達(dá)到峰值,然后隨著能源需求的季節(jié)性下降而減弱。從中期來看,歐洲有更多的時(shí)間來實(shí)現(xiàn)能源供應(yīng)多樣化,這也需要拉動(dòng)GDP的投資。當(dāng)然,這并不容易,因?yàn)槟茉磧r(jià)格可能會(huì)居高不下,導(dǎo)致預(yù)算緊張,行業(yè)競爭力減弱。
美國勞動(dòng)力市場依舊勢頭強(qiáng)勁——這似乎有可能保護(hù)美國經(jīng)濟(jì)免受2022年衰退帶來的影響——但同樣強(qiáng)勁的勞動(dòng)力市場也增加了這樣一種風(fēng)險(xiǎn):即使2023年通脹率繼續(xù)下降,但下降的空間有限。
歐洲的通貨膨脹主要與能源有關(guān),而美國的通貨膨脹則涉及更廣泛的領(lǐng)域。在2023年,這種廣泛的通貨膨脹將很難從經(jīng)濟(jì)中消失,特別是如果它主要由工資驅(qū)動(dòng)的話。這促使美國采取更為激進(jìn)的貨幣政策,預(yù)期將繼續(xù)收緊貨幣政策。與歐洲相反,美國預(yù)計(jì)將進(jìn)一步收緊貨幣政策,從而為經(jīng)濟(jì)降溫。這意味著未來一年的經(jīng)濟(jì)增長將非常緩慢,盡管衰退并非不可避免,但持續(xù)采取緊縮政策以對抗廣泛的通脹是一種危險(xiǎn)的策略,到目前為止,歐洲不需要采取這種策略。
因此,相對而言,人們可能會(huì)得出這樣的結(jié)論:到今年年底,經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況更好的是美國,而到明年年底,經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況更好的是歐洲。
亞洲的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來要好得多,但結(jié)構(gòu)性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)則不然
與西方相比,亞洲最大經(jīng)濟(jì)體面臨的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)似乎較為溫和。首先,盡管日本和中國是重要的能源進(jìn)口國,但它們并沒有經(jīng)歷類似歐洲規(guī)模的能源沖擊。而且由于通脹仍然溫和,實(shí)施緊縮的貨幣政策為經(jīng)濟(jì)降溫的策略并不適用。
誠然,全球能源價(jià)格推高了日本的通脹。但能源價(jià)格將總體通脹推高至勉強(qiáng)超過2%,并不會(huì)結(jié)束日本20多年來為實(shí)現(xiàn)良性價(jià)格增長而進(jìn)行的結(jié)構(gòu)性改革,也不會(huì)導(dǎo)致壓倒性的實(shí)際收入沖擊。通脹的組成要素并不支持接近目標(biāo)的通脹將持續(xù)下去的觀點(diǎn)。服務(wù)業(yè)通脹仍然處于通縮狀態(tài),工資增長也難以實(shí)現(xiàn)。因此,日本央行沒有像西方央行一樣進(jìn)行加息,而是在日元顯著走軟的情況下,仍然致力于零利率。
因此,盡管與西方相比,如今日本經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)并不明顯,但它仍然深陷于多年來一直帶來挑戰(zhàn)的相同結(jié)構(gòu)性問題:極低的趨勢增長率和受零利率下限阻礙的貨幣政策——這兩種因素結(jié)合起來,導(dǎo)致了自20世紀(jì)70年代初以來最低的實(shí)際有效匯率。
日本的結(jié)構(gòu)性背景已經(jīng)轉(zhuǎn)化為常規(guī)性經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退,這可能仍將是日本經(jīng)濟(jì)的現(xiàn)實(shí)。自20世紀(jì)80年代后期以來,日本大約有三分之一的時(shí)間產(chǎn)出低于峰值,這在美國要少見得多。無論西方經(jīng)濟(jì)體是否受到周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的威脅,日本再次陷入經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的可能性總是很高。
同樣,與西方相比,中國的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)也較小。通脹低于3%的通脹目標(biāo),受能源緊縮的影響較小——部分原因是作為俄羅斯石油的買家獲得的益處,因?yàn)樽越衲?月下旬俄烏沖突爆發(fā)以來,烏拉爾原油大幅打折出售(通常超過30美元/桶,最近接近20美元/桶)。通脹不會(huì)對實(shí)際收入造成沖擊,中國也沒有必要通過加息來對抗通脹。
相反,中國的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)繼續(xù)集中在其新冠疫情上。中國第二季度經(jīng)濟(jì)同比持平,環(huán)比負(fù)增長。盡管預(yù)計(jì)中國經(jīng)濟(jì)將再次強(qiáng)勁反彈,但新冠疫情的威脅仍將存在。
除了周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)之外,一些結(jié)構(gòu)性因素可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致中國經(jīng)濟(jì)增長低于過去的水平,正如中國已經(jīng)將2022年的增長目標(biāo)下調(diào)至5.5%所指出的那樣。近年來6%至8%的顯著增長率更難實(shí)現(xiàn),一方面是因?yàn)橹袊?jīng)濟(jì)規(guī)模更大,另一方面是因?yàn)樽钚抡叩囊幌盗心繕?biāo)將使增長更加可持續(xù),但也更難實(shí)現(xiàn)。這些措施包括(但不限于)調(diào)整經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng),重在拉動(dòng)內(nèi)部消費(fèi),增強(qiáng)內(nèi)部韌性,發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略性產(chǎn)業(yè),減少對債務(wù)驅(qū)動(dòng)的房地產(chǎn)開發(fā)的依賴。
如今,亞洲的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來比西方的更可控,但從長期來看就不那么可控了,因?yàn)榻Y(jié)構(gòu)性挑戰(zhàn)依然嚴(yán)峻,日本陷入了零利率陷阱,而中國正著手向放緩的趨勢增長轉(zhuǎn)型。相比之下,西方的結(jié)構(gòu)性前景——盡管面臨著自身的挑戰(zhàn)——可以說比過去幾年要好。勞動(dòng)力市場緊張,即使在經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷時(shí)期也可能持續(xù)存在,經(jīng)濟(jì)以接近潛力水平運(yùn)行。勞動(dòng)力市場緊張可能會(huì)帶來實(shí)際的、廣泛的工資增長,并從中期來看,為好于預(yù)期的生產(chǎn)率增長提供動(dòng)力。
放眼全球,從本土入手進(jìn)行分析
盡管承認(rèn)當(dāng)今全球經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入嚴(yán)重衰退的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)是一個(gè)好的起點(diǎn),但美國、歐洲和亞洲之間的差異——以及出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī)上的差異——使得統(tǒng)一應(yīng)對風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的想法無法實(shí)現(xiàn);這些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的大小、性質(zhì)和出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī)存在顯著差異。
為了應(yīng)對復(fù)雜態(tài)勢,高管和投資者必須分析各地區(qū)的驅(qū)動(dòng)因素和風(fēng)險(xiǎn),并考慮各地區(qū)間的相互聯(lián)系。經(jīng)濟(jì)前景仍將因地區(qū)而異,因此,不能說全球經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入衰退。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
菲利普·卡爾松-斯萊扎克(Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak)是波士頓咨詢公司(BCG)紐約辦事處的董事總經(jīng)理兼合伙人,也是該公司的全球首席經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家。保羅·斯沃茨(Paul Swartz)是位于紐約的波士頓咨詢公司亨德森研究所(BCG Henderson Institute)的董事兼高級(jí)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家。
Fortune.com上的評論文章僅代表作者個(gè)人觀點(diǎn),不代表《財(cái)富》雜志的觀點(diǎn)和立場。
譯者:中慧言-王芳
在新冠疫情復(fù)蘇約兩年半后,世界經(jīng)濟(jì)正面臨新一輪衰退。從表面上看,全球經(jīng)濟(jì)受到多重不利因素的沖擊,其中最主要的不利因素是通脹,而戰(zhàn)爭對全球能源價(jià)格的影響加劇了通脹,導(dǎo)致實(shí)際收入減少,同時(shí)推高了利率。
即便如此,美國、歐洲和亞洲這三大主要經(jīng)濟(jì)地區(qū)面臨的挑戰(zhàn)也截然不同,尤其是因?yàn)樯鲜霾焕蛩夭⒉幌窨瓷先ツ菢邮侨蛐缘摹?/p>
為了了解不同的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)及其可能出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī),我們應(yīng)該提醒自己注意每個(gè)地區(qū)的周期性驅(qū)動(dòng)因素和結(jié)構(gòu)性背景。與美國相比,歐元區(qū)在短期內(nèi)受到更嚴(yán)重的經(jīng)濟(jì)逆風(fēng)打擊,但由于美國面臨的挑戰(zhàn)可能會(huì)更加持久,歐元區(qū)的命運(yùn)在2023年可能會(huì)出現(xiàn)逆轉(zhuǎn)。與此同時(shí),由于衰退風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來相對較低,日本和中國這兩個(gè)亞洲最大的經(jīng)濟(jì)體在短期內(nèi)處于最有利的位置。然而,從長遠(yuǎn)來看,亞洲的新舊結(jié)構(gòu)性挑戰(zhàn)都可能使其增長風(fēng)險(xiǎn)高于西方。
歐洲風(fēng)險(xiǎn)今年見頂,美國風(fēng)險(xiǎn)明年見頂
盡管美國和歐洲都面臨著經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的高風(fēng)險(xiǎn)——遠(yuǎn)高于亞洲經(jīng)濟(jì)體——但這些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)在程度和種類上有所不同。是的,能源沖擊是全球性的,但在歐洲,能源價(jià)格本身就可能導(dǎo)致經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退。盡管美國的能源結(jié)構(gòu)比歐洲更依賴天然氣,但自2021年年初以來,歐洲的天然氣現(xiàn)貨價(jià)格上漲了15倍以上,相比之下,美國4倍的漲幅顯得微不足道。
這種不同的能源沖擊在美國轉(zhuǎn)化為重大的宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)逆風(fēng),但在歐洲則轉(zhuǎn)化為更加嚴(yán)重的沖擊,削弱了實(shí)際收入和消費(fèi)能力。它還侵蝕了工業(yè)競爭力,而這種競爭力在一定程度上是由于長期以來能源價(jià)格低廉而獲得的。
但歐洲更容易受到俄羅斯對能源的地緣政治利用的影響,這只是其中一個(gè)劣勢——?dú)W元區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)體的韌性也不如美國。
與美國的消費(fèi)者一樣,歐洲的消費(fèi)者在面對經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷時(shí)的心態(tài)相對較好。在大西洋兩岸,由于現(xiàn)金持有速度加快,家庭資產(chǎn)負(fù)債表比新冠疫情前好得多。但美國家庭的現(xiàn)金持有速度增長更快,這是因?yàn)槊绹鴮?shí)施了大規(guī)模財(cái)政刺激計(jì)劃。同樣,這兩個(gè)地區(qū)的勞動(dòng)力市場都很強(qiáng)勁,這反映了一些不太可能受到能源沖擊影響的因素——但美國勞動(dòng)力市場也特別緊張,美國員工的工資增長也更加強(qiáng)勁。
同樣,美國公司的韌性更強(qiáng)。美國和歐洲的利潤水平都很強(qiáng)勁,但美國的營業(yè)利潤率接近30年來的最高水平,而歐洲的營業(yè)利潤率高于10多年來的水平,但還沒有達(dá)到2008年全球金融危機(jī)前的水平。隨著需求疲軟,投入價(jià)格(包括商品價(jià)格和日益增長的勞動(dòng)力價(jià)格)將難以傳導(dǎo),美國和歐洲的營業(yè)利潤率都將受到擠壓。
明年命運(yùn)會(huì)逆轉(zhuǎn)嗎?
鑒于歐洲受到更大的沖擊和本身較弱的韌性,歐洲面臨的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)似乎更大——但這僅限于短期內(nèi)的衰退風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。雖然到2022年年底,美國明顯處于有利地位,但到2023年年底,這種情況可能會(huì)出現(xiàn)逆轉(zhuǎn)。
在歐洲,可以合理地預(yù)期,能源逆風(fēng)將在今年冬天達(dá)到峰值,然后隨著能源需求的季節(jié)性下降而減弱。從中期來看,歐洲有更多的時(shí)間來實(shí)現(xiàn)能源供應(yīng)多樣化,這也需要拉動(dòng)GDP的投資。當(dāng)然,這并不容易,因?yàn)槟茉磧r(jià)格可能會(huì)居高不下,導(dǎo)致預(yù)算緊張,行業(yè)競爭力減弱。
美國勞動(dòng)力市場依舊勢頭強(qiáng)勁——這似乎有可能保護(hù)美國經(jīng)濟(jì)免受2022年衰退帶來的影響——但同樣強(qiáng)勁的勞動(dòng)力市場也增加了這樣一種風(fēng)險(xiǎn):即使2023年通脹率繼續(xù)下降,但下降的空間有限。
歐洲的通貨膨脹主要與能源有關(guān),而美國的通貨膨脹則涉及更廣泛的領(lǐng)域。在2023年,這種廣泛的通貨膨脹將很難從經(jīng)濟(jì)中消失,特別是如果它主要由工資驅(qū)動(dòng)的話。這促使美國采取更為激進(jìn)的貨幣政策,預(yù)期將繼續(xù)收緊貨幣政策。與歐洲相反,美國預(yù)計(jì)將進(jìn)一步收緊貨幣政策,從而為經(jīng)濟(jì)降溫。這意味著未來一年的經(jīng)濟(jì)增長將非常緩慢,盡管衰退并非不可避免,但持續(xù)采取緊縮政策以對抗廣泛的通脹是一種危險(xiǎn)的策略,到目前為止,歐洲不需要采取這種策略。
因此,相對而言,人們可能會(huì)得出這樣的結(jié)論:到今年年底,經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況更好的是美國,而到明年年底,經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況更好的是歐洲。
亞洲的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來要好得多,但結(jié)構(gòu)性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)則不然
與西方相比,亞洲最大經(jīng)濟(jì)體面臨的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)似乎較為溫和。首先,盡管日本和中國是重要的能源進(jìn)口國,但它們并沒有經(jīng)歷類似歐洲規(guī)模的能源沖擊。而且由于通脹仍然溫和,實(shí)施緊縮的貨幣政策為經(jīng)濟(jì)降溫的策略并不適用。
誠然,全球能源價(jià)格推高了日本的通脹。但能源價(jià)格將總體通脹推高至勉強(qiáng)超過2%,并不會(huì)結(jié)束日本20多年來為實(shí)現(xiàn)良性價(jià)格增長而進(jìn)行的結(jié)構(gòu)性改革,也不會(huì)導(dǎo)致壓倒性的實(shí)際收入沖擊。通脹的組成要素并不支持接近目標(biāo)的通脹將持續(xù)下去的觀點(diǎn)。服務(wù)業(yè)通脹仍然處于通縮狀態(tài),工資增長也難以實(shí)現(xiàn)。因此,日本央行沒有像西方央行一樣進(jìn)行加息,而是在日元顯著走軟的情況下,仍然致力于零利率。
因此,盡管與西方相比,如今日本經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)并不明顯,但它仍然深陷于多年來一直帶來挑戰(zhàn)的相同結(jié)構(gòu)性問題:極低的趨勢增長率和受零利率下限阻礙的貨幣政策——這兩種因素結(jié)合起來,導(dǎo)致了自20世紀(jì)70年代初以來最低的實(shí)際有效匯率。
日本的結(jié)構(gòu)性背景已經(jīng)轉(zhuǎn)化為常規(guī)性經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退,這可能仍將是日本經(jīng)濟(jì)的現(xiàn)實(shí)。自20世紀(jì)80年代后期以來,日本大約有三分之一的時(shí)間產(chǎn)出低于峰值,這在美國要少見得多。無論西方經(jīng)濟(jì)體是否受到周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的威脅,日本再次陷入經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的可能性總是很高。
同樣,與西方相比,中國的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)也較小。通脹低于3%的通脹目標(biāo),受能源緊縮的影響較小——部分原因是作為俄羅斯石油的買家獲得的益處,因?yàn)樽越衲?月下旬俄烏沖突爆發(fā)以來,烏拉爾原油大幅打折出售(通常超過30美元/桶,最近接近20美元/桶)。通脹不會(huì)對實(shí)際收入造成沖擊,中國也沒有必要通過加息來對抗通脹。
相反,中國的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)繼續(xù)集中在其新冠疫情上。中國第二季度經(jīng)濟(jì)同比持平,環(huán)比負(fù)增長。盡管預(yù)計(jì)中國經(jīng)濟(jì)將再次強(qiáng)勁反彈,但新冠疫情的威脅仍將存在。
除了周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)之外,一些結(jié)構(gòu)性因素可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致中國經(jīng)濟(jì)增長低于過去的水平,正如中國已經(jīng)將2022年的增長目標(biāo)下調(diào)至5.5%所指出的那樣。近年來6%至8%的顯著增長率更難實(shí)現(xiàn),一方面是因?yàn)橹袊?jīng)濟(jì)規(guī)模更大,另一方面是因?yàn)樽钚抡叩囊幌盗心繕?biāo)將使增長更加可持續(xù),但也更難實(shí)現(xiàn)。這些措施包括(但不限于)調(diào)整經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng),重在拉動(dòng)內(nèi)部消費(fèi),增強(qiáng)內(nèi)部韌性,發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略性產(chǎn)業(yè),減少對債務(wù)驅(qū)動(dòng)的房地產(chǎn)開發(fā)的依賴。
如今,亞洲的周期性風(fēng)險(xiǎn)看起來比西方的更可控,但從長期來看就不那么可控了,因?yàn)榻Y(jié)構(gòu)性挑戰(zhàn)依然嚴(yán)峻,日本陷入了零利率陷阱,而中國正著手向放緩的趨勢增長轉(zhuǎn)型。相比之下,西方的結(jié)構(gòu)性前景——盡管面臨著自身的挑戰(zhàn)——可以說比過去幾年要好。勞動(dòng)力市場緊張,即使在經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷時(shí)期也可能持續(xù)存在,經(jīng)濟(jì)以接近潛力水平運(yùn)行。勞動(dòng)力市場緊張可能會(huì)帶來實(shí)際的、廣泛的工資增長,并從中期來看,為好于預(yù)期的生產(chǎn)率增長提供動(dòng)力。
放眼全球,從本土入手進(jìn)行分析
盡管承認(rèn)當(dāng)今全球經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入嚴(yán)重衰退的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)是一個(gè)好的起點(diǎn),但美國、歐洲和亞洲之間的差異——以及出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī)上的差異——使得統(tǒng)一應(yīng)對風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的想法無法實(shí)現(xiàn);這些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的大小、性質(zhì)和出現(xiàn)的時(shí)機(jī)存在顯著差異。
為了應(yīng)對復(fù)雜態(tài)勢,高管和投資者必須分析各地區(qū)的驅(qū)動(dòng)因素和風(fēng)險(xiǎn),并考慮各地區(qū)間的相互聯(lián)系。經(jīng)濟(jì)前景仍將因地區(qū)而異,因此,不能說全球經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入衰退。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
菲利普·卡爾松-斯萊扎克(Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak)是波士頓咨詢公司(BCG)紐約辦事處的董事總經(jīng)理兼合伙人,也是該公司的全球首席經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家。保羅·斯沃茨(Paul Swartz)是位于紐約的波士頓咨詢公司亨德森研究所(BCG Henderson Institute)的董事兼高級(jí)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家。
Fortune.com上的評論文章僅代表作者個(gè)人觀點(diǎn),不代表《財(cái)富》雜志的觀點(diǎn)和立場。
譯者:中慧言-王芳
About two and a half years into the COVID recovery, the world economy is facing the prospects of a new downturn. On the surface, the global economy is buffeted by common headwinds, chief among them inflation, which has been turbocharged by the war’s impact on global energy prices, reducing real incomes while pushing up interest rates.
Even so, the challenges faced in the three main economic regions–the U.S., Europe, and Asia–are very different, not least because the aforementioned headwinds are not nearly as global as they seem.
To appreciate divergent risks and their likely timing we should remind ourselves of the cyclical drivers and structural context of each region. Compared to the U.S., the Eurozone is hit by more acute economic headwinds in the near term, but there could be a reversal of fortunes in 2023 as U.S. challenges are likely to prove more persistent. Meanwhile, the largest Asian economies–Japan and China–are in the most favorable position near term as recession risks look comparatively low. However, over the longer term, both new and old structural challenges in Asia are likely to make growth riskier than in the West.
European risks peak this year, U.S. risks next
Though both the U.S. and Europe face a high risk of recession–far higher than Asian economies–the risks differ in terms of degree and kind. Yes, the energy shock is global but it’s Europe where energy prices can deliver a recession all on their own. Though the U.S. energy mix is even more reliant on natural gas than Europe’s, spot natural gas prices have increased over 15-fold in Europe since the start of 2021, making the substantial four-fold increase in the U.S. look modest in comparison.
This divergent energy shock translates into a material macroeconomic headwind in the U.S. but into a far more savage shock in Europe that hammers real incomes and spending power. It also erodes industrial competitiveness that was achieved in part because of unrealistically cheap energy for too long.
But Europe’s much greater exposure to Russia’s geopolitical use of energy is only one disadvantage–Eurozone economies are also less resilient than the US.
Like their U.S. counterparts, European consumers are in a relatively comfortable position today to face a downturn. On both sides of the Atlantic, household balance sheets are much stronger than before the pandemic because cash holdings accelerated–but U.S. households accelerated by more because of much greater stimulus. Similarly, both regions enjoy strong labor markets that reflect factors that are unlikely to be undermined by an energy shock–but here too, U.S. labor markets are particularly tight and U.S. workers are seeing stronger wage gains.
Similarly, U.S. firms show a greater degree of resilience. Both the U.S. and Europe are seeing strong levels of profits, but operating margins are near a three-decade high in the U.S., whereas in Europe they are stronger than in a decade but not as strong as before the global financial crisis of 2008. Each will be squeezed as input prices–both commodities and increasingly labor–will be harder to pass on as demand softens.
A reversal of fortunes next year?
Given Europe’s larger shock and weaker resilience, it would seem clear that Europe’s risks are larger–but that focuses narrowly on the risk of recession in the short term. While through the end of 2022 the U.S. is in a clearly favored position, that could reverse by the end of 2023.
In Europe, the energy headwind can reasonably be expected to peak this winter and then get easier as energy demand seasonally drops and, in the medium run, Europe has more time to diversify its energy supplies which will also require GDP-generating investment. Of course, it won’t be easy as energy prices are likely to stay high, leaving budgets tight and some industrial competitiveness weak.
In the U.S., the labor market continues to show remarkable strength–which seems likely to protect the economy from a clear recession in 2022–but that same strong labor market raises the risk that even as inflation continues to fall in 2023 it won’t fall far enough.
In contrast to Europe where inflation is overwhelming about energy, U.S. inflation is broader based. This broad-based inflation, particularly should it become primarily wage-driven, will be hard to squeeze out of the economy in 2023. This has motivated far more aggressive monetary policy in the U.S. with expectations for tightening to continue. In contrast to Europe, U.S. monetary policy is expected to tighten to a meaningfully tight stance, intentionally becoming a persistent headwind to economic growth. This suggests very slow growth in the coming year and while a recession is not inevitable, sustained tight policy to combat broad-based inflation is a dangerous maneuver that, so far, Europe doesn’t need to follow.
Thus, relative to each other, one might conclude that it’s preferable to be the U.S. at the end of this year, but Europe at the end of next year.
Asian cyclical risks look far better, but not their structural ones
Compared with the West, the risks faced by the largest Asian economies look tame. To begin with, Japan and China haven’t been experiencing a European-sized energy shock despite being significant energy importers. And because inflation remains modest, the need for monetary policy to exert a sustained headwind does not apply.
True, global energy prices have pushed Japanese inflation higher. But energy prices pushing headline inflation barely above the 2% target will not end Japan’s two-decade structural struggle to achieve healthy price growth, nor does it amount to an overwhelming real income shock. The composition of inflation doesn’t support the idea that near-target inflation will persist. Services inflation is still deflationary and wage growth is hard to find. In consequence, the Bank of Japan has not joined the rate path of Western central banks but stayed committed to zero interest rates despite sharp currency weakness.
So while today the rise in Japan’s recession risk is tepid compared to the West, it remains mired by the same structural issues that have challenged it for years: very low trend growth and monetary policy hampered by the zero lower bound–a combination that has contributed to the weakest real effective exchange rate since the early 1970s.
Japan’s structural backdrop has translated into regular recessions and that is likely to remain the reality for Japan’s economy. Since the late 1980s Japan has spent roughly a third of the time with output below its peak, something far less common in the U.S. With or without the cyclical risk threatening Western economies, the prospect of another Japanese recession is always elevated.
Similarly, China’s cyclical risks are modest compared to the West. Inflation sits below the 3% inflation target and is less driven by an energy squeeze–in part a benefit of being a buyer of Russian oil, as Ural crude has been sold at a steep discount (often more than $30 per barrel, recently closer to $20) since the war started in late February. There is no real income shock from inflation, nor is there a need to raise interest rates to combat inflation.
Instead, China’s cyclical risks continue to be centered on its COVID policy. Lockdowns, a necessity of a zero-COVID strategy, delivered flat growth year-over-year and negative growth quarter-over-quarter in the second quarter. And while the Chinese economy is expected to rebound strongly again, the threat of more shutdowns will remain. China managing positive growth in 2020 was the envy of the world then, but today other economies are less vulnerable to the virus.
Beyond cyclical risks, a number of structural forces are likely to result in slower growth than what was experienced in the past, as China has noted by lowering the growth target to 5.5% for 2022. The remarkable growth rates of 6-8% in recent years are harder to achieve both because China’s economy is bigger and because the latest policy has a number of goals that?will make growth more sustainable but also harder to find. These include (but are not limited to) rebalancing economic activity toward internal consumption, developing more internal resilience and development of strategic industries, and becoming less reliant on debt-driven?real estate development.
Today, Asia’s cyclical risk looks preferable to the West’s, but less so longer term as structural challenges remain significant with Japan stuck in a zero-interest rate trap and China embarking on a transformation towards slower trend growth. In contrast, the West’s structural outlook–while facing its own challenges–is arguably better than it has been in years. Economies are running near potential with tight labor markets which may persist even through a downturn. These tight labor markets may yet deliver real and broad-based wage gains as well as provide the spark for better-than-expected productivity gains in the medium run.
Think globally, analyze locally
Though recognition of today’s intense global recession risks is a valid starting point, the differences between the U.S., Europe, and Asia–as well as the differences in timing–belie the idea of uniformity; the magnitude, nature, and timing of these risks differ meaningfully.
To navigate these complex dynamics, executives and investors must analyze the drivers and risks regionally as well as consider the interlinkages. The outlooks will remain too idiosyncratic to allow for a global recession narrative.
Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak is a managing director and partner in BCG’s New York office and the firm’s global chief economist. Paul Swartz is a director and senior economist at the BCG Henderson Institute in New York.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.