Increase in productivity will bring down inflation: KC Chakrabarty

18 Jun 2011 Evaluate

The Reserve Bank of India, on June 16, hiked its short-term lending and borrowing rates by 25 basis points, this was the 10th time in last 16 months when central bank has increased it key policy rates to curb inflation in the economy which crossed 9% mark in May. The Apex bank said it has no magic wand to bring down the inflation. At the ASSOCHAM event RBI’s Deputy Governor KC Chakrabarty said 'You all want that inflation should come down. Neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Reserve Bank has any magic wand to bring down inflation.”

The wholesale price inflation was 9.06% in May and 8.66% in April. The RBI’s monetary policy tightening regime have failed to bring inflation down to its comfort level due increase in prices of international crude oil and commodity domestic structural demand-supply mismatches in several commodities. The RBI has estimated inflation to be at around 6% by end of this financial year. 

According to the KC Chakrabarty, the present elevated inflation in the economy is due to constraints in the supply chain and only increase in agriculture productivity and use of advance technology might reduce the increase in prices. KC Chakrabarty said, '...instead of saying that RBI should bring down inflation, we must increase productivity and bring down the cost of services and that will only bring down inflation. Otherwise, it will not come down.”

In the same event, Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee said, in the short-term moderating aggregate demand is critical to check inflation, which is 'our major challenge'. However, Finance Minister accepted that the anti-inflation monetary measures may hamper economic growth.

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