Growing fears of a hard landing for China's economy

China controls its economy like a heater it turns it up and down. After two years of cooling, Chinese policymakers are turning up the heater again.

But before the stimulus measures actually kick in, China’s economic growth may dip below policymakers’ comfort zone. An investment-driven rebound is expected in the third and fourth quarters this year, when monetary easing gradually trickles through the economy, according to Morgan Stanley.

China recorded relatively low GDP growth of 8.1% during the first quarter, but it is expected to slow further. “Things have to get worse before getting better,” said Helen Qiao, a China economist at the bank. “And we...