皇冠体育app

Massive stimulus has side effects: Economist

Updated: 2011-12-03 13:49

(Xinhua)

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SANYA, Hainan - The massive stimulus that saved 皇冠体育app's economy has also caused many headaches for the country and is now forcing the country to change the way in which its economy is developing, a prominent economist said Thursday.

Cheng Siwei, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said the 4-trillion-yuan ($585.5 billion) stimulus package, which helped lift 皇冠体育app out of the 2008 crisis, has also created overcapacity, inflation and local debt crises.

Cheng made the remarks in a speech at the ongoing BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum.

Although the stimuli helped 皇冠体育app achieve economic growth of 9.2 percent in 2009 and saved jobs for 8.53 million people, the massive investment has caused overcapacity issues in many industries and a decrease in investment efficiency, Cheng said.

Record lending in 2009 also created several lingering problems, including inflation, assets bubbles and local government debt issues, he said.

According to Cheng's calculations, a total of 2.5 trillion yuan was poured into the property market in 2009.

皇冠体育app should work to encourage domestic consumption, create a "green" economy and start reforms in its educational system in order to change its future economic development, he said.

Cheng also pointed out that 皇冠体育app needs to further open up and reduce its foreign reserves.

皇冠体育app should maintain its foreign reserves at around 20 percent of the country's GDP, or about $1 trillion, he said. 皇冠体育app's foreign reserves stood at $3.20 trillion as of September this year.

皇冠体育app should also let its foreign exchange system more flexible, making yuan an international currency and completely convertible, he said.

皇冠体育app needs to strive for more balanced foreign trade, encourage outbound investment and facilitate the development of free trade zones, he said.