In search of balance between economic growth and inflation in Vietnam


Authors

  • Ly Dai Hung Vietnam Institute of Economics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.57110/vnujeb.v3i4.212

Keywords:

Economic growth, inflation, Vietnam

Abstract

We define the balance point between economic growth and inflation as the maximum economic growth rate, given that the inflation rate is lower than one value. In the Vietnamese economy, multiple balance points exist. In one balance point, the economic growth is 8.02% given the inflation is below 4%, while in another point, the economic growth is 7.70%, given the inflation is in the 7-8% range. And there is a trap embedded in the 5-6% inflation range. Either the reduction of inflation to below 4% or its increase to fall into the 7-8% range is associated with a greater economic growth rate. Thus, the balance between economic growth and inflation can be considered as a balance path rather than just one balance point. The result is robust in accounting for the role of the foreign exchange rate, as proxied by the depreciation of the domestic currency, and also robust on accounting for both the annual and quarterly data sample. Since higher inflation is harmful to economic growth with a negative correlation coefficient of -0.05 in annual sample, the objective of public policy should be placed in the combination of economic growth and inflation when the inflation rate is below 4%.

References

Aghion, P., & Howitt, P. (1992). A model of growth through creative destruction. Econometrica: Journal of the Econometric Society, 60(2), 323-351. https://doi.org/10.2307/2951599

Ball, L., Mankiw, N. G., Romer, D., Akerlof, G. A., Rose, A., Yellen, J., & Sims, C. A. (1988). The new Keynesian economics and the output-inflation trade-off. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 1, 1-82.

Bhattacharya, R. (2014). Inflation dynamics and monetary policy transmission in Vietnam and emerging Asia. Journal of Asian Economics, 34, 16-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2014.05.001

Blanchard, O. J. (1989). A traditional interpretation of macroeconomic fluctuations. The American Economic Review, 1146-1164.

Billi, R. M., & Kahn, G. A. (2008). What is the optimal inflation rate? Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Review, 93(2), 5-28.

Clarida, R., Gali, J., & Gertler, M. (2000). Monetary policy rules and macroeconomic stability: evidence and some theory. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115(1), 147-180. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355300554692

Chi, H. H. P. (2019). Non-monotonic relationship between economic growth and inflation in Vietnam. Can Tho University Journal of Science, 55(6), 82-88. In Vietnamese.

Frankel, M. (1962). The production function in allocation and growth: A synthesis. The American Economic Review, 52(5), 996–1022. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1812179

Ly, D. H. (2021). Output-inflation trade-off in the presence of foreign capital: Evidence for Vietnam. South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, 10(2), 179-192. http://doi.org/10.1177/2277978720979890

Jones, C. I. (2022). The end of economic growth? Unintended consequences of a declining population. American Economic Review, 112(11), 3489-3527. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20201605

Kremer, S., Bick, A., & Nautz, D. (2013). Inflation and growth: New evidence from a dynamic panel threshold analysis. Empirical Economics, 44, 861-878. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-012-0553-9

Lam, H. T. (2015). Threshold effects in the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Vietnam. Journal of Economics and Development, 217, 15-24.

Lucas, Jr, R. E. (2000). Inflation and welfare. Econometrica, 68(2), 247-274. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0262.00109

Lucas, R. E. (1973). Some international evidence on output-inflation tradeoffs. The American Economic Review, 63(3), 326-334.

Oikawa, K., & Ueda, K. (2018). The optimal inflation rate under Schumpeterian growth. Journal of Monetary Economics, 100, 114-125.

Mankiw, N. G., Romer, D, & Weil, D. N. (1992). A contribution to the empirics of economic growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 107, 407-437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2018.07.012

McKenzie, L. W. (1986). Optimal economic growth, turnpike theorems and comparative dynamics. Handbook of Mathematical Economics, 3, 1281-1355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1573-4382(86)03008-4

World Bank (2023). Global economic prospects report. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects

Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 2), S71-S102. https://doi.org/10.1086/261725

Solow, R. M. (1956). A contribution to the theory of economic growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 70(1), 65-94. https://doi.org/10.2307/1884513

Schmitt-Grohé, S., & Uribe, M. (2010). The optimal rate of inflation. In Handbook of Monetary Economics (Vol. 3, pp. 653-722). Elsevier.

Vietnam Government Online. (2022). Decision No. 01/NQ-CP by the Vietnam government on main solutions to implement the economic-social plan, public budget and business environment improvement, national competitiveness enhancement in 2023, dated 6.01.2023.

Vietnamnet (2022). Finding the balance between growth and inflation. https://vietnamnet.vn/en/finding-the-balance-between-growth-and-inflation-2093134.html

Vinayagathasan, T. (2013). Inflation and economic growth: A dynamic panel threshold analysis for Asian economies. Journal of Asian Economics, 26, 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2013.04.001

Vietnam General Statistic Office - GSO (2022). Monthly economic-social report. https://www.gso.gov.vn/

Downloads

Downloads

Published

25-08-2023

Abstract View

354

PDF Downloaded

20

How to Cite

Ly Dai Hung. (2023). In search of balance between economic growth and inflation in Vietnam. VNU University of Economics and Business, 3(4), 13. https://doi.org/10.57110/vnujeb.v3i4.212

Issue

Section

Original Articles