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The Economy of Iran: Economic Policy Challenges

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The Economy of Iran: Economic Policy Challenges Marek Dabrowski The economy of Iran: economic policy challenges Presentation at the Bruegel seminar on ‘New perspectives for economic cooperation with Iran’, Brussels, June 2, 2016 Economic potential –factsheet (2015) • 18th largest economy in the world (GDP = close to1.4 trillions international $ in PPP terms); just behind Canada, Spain and Turkey • 1.2% of the world’s GDP • Upper-middle-income status • GDP per capita in PPP current international $17,251 • Similar size and development level with Turkey but huge differences in terms of economic structure, economic system and openness 2 Major economic policy challenges • GDP stagnation • High inflation • Fiscal and quasi-fiscal imbalances • Administrative price controls • Energy and other subsidies • Multiple exchange rates • Insufficient external openness and legacy of import-substitution industrialization 3 GDP, constant prices, annual change, in % 10,0 9,1 8,0 6,6 5,7 6,0 4,2 4,3 3,8 4,0 2,3 2,0 0,9 0,0 0,0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 -2,0 -1,9 -4,0 -6,0 Source: IMF WEO, April 2016 -6,6 -8,0 4 Inflation, end of period, in % 45,0 41,2 40,0 Source: IMF WEO, April 2016 35,0 30,0 25,0 22,5 20,5 19,9 19,7 20,0 17,7 16,2 15,1 15,0 10,3 10,4 9,4 10,0 5,0 0,0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 5 Source: IMF CR/15/349 6 Current account balance, in % of GDP 12,0 Source: IMF WEO, April 2016 10,5 10,0 9,7 8,0 8,0 7,1 7,0 5,8 5,9 6,0 4,0 3,8 4,0 2,4 2,0 0,4 0,0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 7 Fiscal indicators, % of GDP 30,0 Source: IMF WEO, April 2016 25,0 20,0 GG total revenue 15,0 GG total expenditure GG net lending/borrowing 10,0 5,0 0,0 -5,0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 8 Source: IMF CR/15/349 9 Insufficient economic openness • The biggest economy outside the WTO • Outside bilateral and multilateral trade agreements • High tariffs and non-tariff barriers • Current account inconvertibility • Numerous restrictions on foreign investment • Closeness of financial sector 10 MFN tariff rate, weighted, %, manufactured goods Country 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Argentina .. 12.2 15.3 12.8 13.8 Brazil 28.7 14.1 15.0 10.8 12.6 Chile .. 10.9 9.0 6.0 6.0 China .. .. 13.7 5.4 6.6 Egypt .. 22.4 .. 12.1 10.0a India 76.2 .. .. 11.8 7.8a Iran .. .. 28.6 .. 23.4b Japan 3.3 3.1 2.2 1.8 2.2 South Korea 11.5 7.4 .. .. 5.3 Mexico .. 11.8 14.7 11.9 5.0 Russia _ .. .. 8.5 5.9 Saudi Arabia .. .. 11.2 4.7 4.4a South Africa 11.0 .. .. 7.4 7.3 US 4.8 4.3 3.0 2.8 2.9 EU27 7.8 6.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 11 Note: a - 2009, b - 2012; Source: UNCTADstat Effectively applied import tariff rates, weighted, %, manufactured goods Country 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Argentina .. 9.0 11.3 5.8 7.0 Brazil 28.7 12.8 15.0 9.4 9.8 Chile .. 10.6 9.0 4.4 4.8 China .. .. 13.7 5.4 5.6 Egypt .. 22.4 .. 11.7 9.5c India 76.2 .. .. 11.7 7.6c Iran .. .. 28.6 .. 23.4b Japan 2.3 2.0 1.2 1.5 1.7 South Korea 11.5 7.4 .. .. 5.1 Mexico .. 7.5 14.7 3.2 2.4 Russia _ .. .. 8.5 3.9 Saudi Arabia .. .. 11.2 4.5 4.2a South Africa 11.0 .. .. 6.8 5.7 US 4.1 3.1 1.9 1.9 2.0 EU27 6.1 5.4 1.8 2.2 2.4 12 a - 2011, b - 2012, c – 2009, Source: UNCTADstat Source: IMF CR/15/349 13 Business climate • World Bank Doing Business 2016 – 118th rank (out of 189); worse: protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, resolving insolvency • Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2015 – 130th rank out of 167 • World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index 2015-2016 – 74th rank out of 130 • Excessive administrative regulation and political interference 14 Factors determining economic prospects • Declining oil prices • Easing economic sanctions • Prudent macroeconomic policies • Improving domestic business climate • Trade liberalization and WTO accession • Openness to FDI • Easing regional tensions 15 .
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