HOUSEHOLD DEBT AMPLIFIES CRISES, MAKES STIMULUS LESS EFFECTIVE
Why should we be concerned? Research by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) shows household debt itself is not the root of a crisis but acts as an amplifier. Highly indebted households will be vulnerable to higher interest rates, a fall in income and a drop in asset prices.
Moreover, our own study reveals that the effectiveness of government stimulus is inversely related to household debt. Once debt reaches 50-60% of GDP, the effectiveness of government measures may be blunted. What would happen if Thailand faced a real crisis, consumption fell sharply and the government could do only a little to revive the economy?