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BOJ's Farewell to Stimulus: A New Era of Normalization

Wesley ParkMonday, Nov 18, 2024 5:17 pm ET
4min read
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is poised to bid farewell to its era of massive stimulus, marking a significant shift in monetary policy. With inflation finally within reach of its 2% target, the BOJ is set to justify rate hikes in its upcoming policy review, signaling the beginning of a new era of normalization. This article delves into the BOJ's review of unconventional easing tools, the role of public perception in policy normalization, and the risks the central bank may focus on as it tapers asset buying and raises interest rates.

The BOJ's review, scheduled for December 18-19, will provide a comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons of various unconventional monetary easing tools used over the past 25 years. The review will highlight the drawbacks of prolonged stimulus, including market liquidity drainage, distorted asset pricing, eroded bank profitability, and increased high-risk lending. This introspection will help the BOJ fine-tune its future policy normalization, potentially leading to a more gradual and measured approach to rate hikes.

Public perception of future price moves significantly influences the BOJ's decision to normalize monetary policy. The review will delve into the limitations of central banks in changing public perceptions, as seen in former Governor Kuroda's radical stimulus. This introspection will help Governor Ueda and his team understand the challenges in shifting the deflationary mindset and guide their approach to policy normalization. By acknowledging the constraints, the BOJ can better calibrate its communication strategy and manage expectations, ensuring a smoother transition away from its massive stimulus era.

Key risks the BOJ may focus on as it tapers asset buying and raises interest rates include market liquidity drain, asset price distortion, eroded bank profitability, and increased high-risk lending. Additionally, the BOJ may focus on the potential impact on the yen's weakness, which could exacerbate import costs and inflation. The review will likely offer insights into the BOJ's preferred tools for dealing with the next economic downturn, guiding its policy decisions in the long run.



The BOJ's review, slated for December 18-19, will likely support its argument for raising interest rates by highlighting the limited power of central banks in changing public perceptions about future price moves. The review will detail how the BOJ's huge asset buying and bond yield cap drained market liquidity, distorted asset pricing, eroded bank profitability, and forced financial institutions to increase high-risk lending. These findings, based on nearly three dozen academic research papers by BOJ staff, will likely justify the BOJ's plan to steadily proceed with policy normalization.

In conclusion, the BOJ's review of unconventional easing tools will play a crucial role in its future policy decisions and rate hikes. By acknowledging the drawbacks of prolonged stimulus and the limitations of central banks in changing public perceptions, the BOJ can better navigate the challenges of policy normalization. As the BOJ bids farewell to its era of massive stimulus, investors should closely monitor the central bank's policy review and its implications for the Japanese economy and financial markets.

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