Assumption of rate cut delivering growth simply not working: Rathin Roy

Rathin Roy expresses concern on the collateral free lending scheme as not making the cut from a regulations perspective.

The assumption that rate cuts would help deliver growth is "simply not working" as transmission is not happening, said senior economist Rathin Roy on Saturday.

Roy, director of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) said the assumptions on linear relationships between rate cuts resulting in growth by lowering the cost of capital is not working for some time now. NIPFP is backed by the finance ministry.

"I am not persuaded by the RBI's monetary policy statements, including that of the governor, regarding the rush down for these rate cuts. I heard him (Governor) just before this session and I continue to not being convinced," Roy said at the Annual Economics Conference organised by State Bank of India.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, who addressed the gathering before the economists' panel, reduced rates by a cumulative 1.15 per cent in two moves since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, on the top of over one percentage point cuts before that with an eye on the sagging growth, which slipped to 4.2 per cent in FY20.

"It is very clear that this assumption (of rate cuts delivering growth) is not working in a simplistic way for some time now. Transmission is not happening," Roy said.

He said there is an "additional danger" posed by the lack of any known analysis done by the RBI on whether we are getting into what he termed as a J-part of the interest rate curve".

Roy also expressed concerns on the collateral free lending scheme as not making the cut from a regulations perspective.

"That's actually breaking your own regulations, hopefully for a noble purpose. I would like to know what that noble purpose is.

"The noble purpose I can discern can only come from one place: the lack of action in terms of direct income support by the government," he said.

It can be noted that as part of the Centre's stimulus package, a Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free lending scheme has been announced for a limited period for helping small businesses come out of the crisis. Only existing borrowers will be given money under the scheme, which has government guarantee.

Roy is a former member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.