スペインの国債の金利の一時的な低迷、
OPINIÓN
El valor de un órdago
En las últimas semanas se respira un cierto optimismo económico, una esperanza precavida
Santiago Carbó 27 ENE 2013 - 00:00 CET
OPINION
The value of a cracking
In recent weeks breathe some economic optimism, a cautious hope
Santiago Carbo 27 ENE 2013 - 00:00 CET
In recent weeks exudes a certain climate of economic optimism, certainly more reliable than some months ago. Yes, it is a hope tense, cautious, with swings. Data have accompanied because markets have followed a generally positive trend recently. However, this peace requires explanation to understand how much faith you can put in it and how it could be treacherous.
For starters, what we find is that the slightest pressure on European sovereign debt, particularly on the peripheral countries, seems to have removed the urgency of a possible rescue request from Spain. This is what, at least, has been pointing out, and not only from the Spanish government, but from a good part of the authorities and European partners. We are already very accustomed to short-term interpretations that lead then to medium term improvisations. But this time it is not already thinking about solutions to problems, but whether this is temporary or peace can be consolidated with the right decisions. At this point, no one in question have sufficient financing and an acceptable cost to government debt for all firms and households is critical to a country where public and private debt are being corrected in a slow and gradual and with great sacrifice.
Central banks have become the unwitting makers have both missed in this crisis
It is worth remembering that until recently were uploaded to a rollercoaster halfway between stroke and depression. So now we find it quiet a strange feeling, especially when we explain it costs a bit because it seems that things have changed so much. The tax gap was avoided in the U.S., which, in any case, still a huge challenge to correct long-term debt, and good macroeconomic news only come from the other side of the Atlantic. Therefore, there seems to be a change in the fundamental European expectations which motivated this relative peace. When we started down the roller coaster to sail in calmer waters? Rather, it was in the summer of 2012, with the cracking of Draghi. His "do whatever it takes to save the euro ... and will suffice" has had and has a very important thing to be able to contextualize. The main idea is that the solutions to the crisis in the U.S. and Europe are being led by the central banks. The monetary authorities have become the unwitting makers have both missed in this crisis. And the scale of it has to do so with unusual solutions, almost experiments. Since then, it has been in the U.S., where the unprecedented monetary expansion has brought the country out of recession, but its long-term effects are still unknown. In Europe it seems that we have had to settle for something less explicit, the cracking of Draghi, who probably had not given its true value.
In this same paper I referred to the decision of Draghi and the European Central Bank as a game changer, when last September its cracking began to take shape with the Outright program Monetary Transactions (OMT), a purchase commitment "decided "debt for those countries seeking a bailout. Do not forget that the main problem is one of credibility, not to a particular country, but for the euro. That risk premiums of peripheral economies have increased the past two years compared to their previous values have, as has been said many times, a component of doubts about the credibility of public accounts or resilience. But also a speculative component which is the first I had dissipate. And that's where the cracking of Draghi has gained even more value than one might have expected. Because the WTO is only a promise, an experiment done. Europe has lived and continues to live these months of the promise of a bet contingent. For weeks, the big question is whether Spain would accept the challenge and, with it, the market expectation is met, the program was activated OMT and risk premiums were reduced. It seems that the "whatever it takes" to Draghi is what has ended up with more weight to the end of the day. Because maybe just to stay in the OMT promise, with the cracking that would give the entity enough to be understood even as the backstop, the European-warranty support to Spain and, ultimately, the euro needed.
Should walk on eggshells because there are fairly major risks for Spain and the euro
Yes, even if you consider that the eurozone already has a guarantee or backstop, this is a capacity problem and provisional. It seems that serves for now, but if things go bad, we end up finding the edge of cracking. In this sense, we should recognize that the urgency of the bailout seems to have diluted somewhat, but at the same time, it is walking on eggshells because there are at least four major risks enough for Spain and the euro.
The first is that the macro economy in the eurozone, this time with Germany included, is impaired, with a widespread recession.
The European economic downturn has brought a second risk rigged, the fallacy that we can and must completely abandon austerity. The uncompromising austerity has been a major mistake, but leave a reasonable guideline correction of fiscal imbalances would be a mistake even more important. The first step in the right direction to address this risk, at least in the Spanish case, would be the adoption of a compliance schedule longer deficit targets, but of commitment and effort after all.
The third source of risk is that other European countries could get large also in a phase of instability similar to that Spain has suffered. No one doubts that this could be the case of a structurally ordered Italy to political instability, but the view is that France can also go a similar path. If this scenario materializes without Spain has played with his own letters long enough, maybe it was already too late to do so.
The fourth source of risk is Spain's ability to grow. Even if at the end of 2013 began to recover, to create sustained job growth rates will be necessary so far do not appear in the forecast. It will be a slow transition well because, after all, will gradually require a paradigm shift. And that change can implement best if done on very solid financial base.
The current optimism is a good sign that should not be neglected because it suggests that there is hope for Europe to set up institutional support for Spain to the east, with or without ransom to an exit. But the risks are not negligible and invite be prepared to decide fast. As fast as we are used to things change these days.
Santiago Carbo Valverde is Professor of Economics and Finance, Bangor Business School and researcher Funcas.
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