大摩谈“高市早苗交易”：政策立场已转向温和保守 财政不会搞MMT 加息预期或降温

Core Viewpoint - The election of Kishi Sanae as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) may lead to her becoming Japan's first female Prime Minister, with a shift towards a more moderate and conservative policy stance, alleviating investor concerns about extreme fiscal expansion and pressure on the Bank of Japan [1][2]. Policy Stance - Kishi Sanae's campaign reflected a pragmatic shift from her previous hardline positions, avoiding past statements on cutting consumption tax or opposing interest rate hikes, which helped her gain more support within the LDP [2][3]. - The concept of "Responsible Expansionary Fiscal Policy" proposed by Kishi emphasizes strategic fiscal mobilization to address social issues, aiming for job and income growth, and a gradual reduction of government net debt-to-GDP ratio, contrasting with modern monetary theory (MMT) [2][3]. Economic Policy Influences - Kishi's economic policies are influenced by former advisor Honda Yoshihiro, incorporating traditional measures such as refundable tax credits and the elimination of temporary gasoline taxes [3]. - She has indicated that cutting consumption tax is not a priority and the likelihood of increasing financial income tax in the short term is low, despite previous proposals to raise the tax rate on financial income over 500,000 yen [3]. Monetary Policy Alignment - Kishi respects the independence of the Bank of Japan, aligning her economic judgments with the cautious stance of Bank Governor Ueda Kazuo, which may lead to a cooling of market expectations for imminent interest rate hikes [5]. - If economic recovery is clear and wage growth stabilizes inflation at 2%, Kishi's government would not oppose interest rate increases, indicating a flexible approach to monetary policy [5]. Key Policy Focus Areas - Kishi's administration will prioritize national security, domestic investment, and structural reforms, with a strong emphasis on "economic security" [6]. - Plans include increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP by FY2027, promoting investment in critical sectors like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology through tax incentives, and establishing a Foreign Investment Review Committee [6]. - Additional reforms aim to address rising prices, enhance energy security, and ensure food safety through agricultural structural reforms [6].