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Fixed Exchange Rates. CHAPTER 15. Introduction. Chapter defines a number of alternative exchange rate regimes Places them on a continuum between “fixed” and “flexible” Focuses on the case of fixed exchange rates
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Fixed Exchange Rates CHAPTER 15
Introduction • Chapter defines a number of alternative exchange rate regimes • Places them on a continuum between “fixed” and “flexible” • Focuses on the case of fixed exchange rates • Examines various ways that balance of payments adjustment can occur under this regime • Considers the policy trilemma in international finance
Alternative Exchange Rate Regimes • Menu of exchange rate arrangements from which a country can choose—in 2001 • 41 countries pursued a floating or flexible exchange rate regime • Monetary authority did not intervene to influence market value of nominal exchange rate • 42 countries maintained a managed floating regime • Monetary authority may have intervened to influence the nominal exchange rate in some way • 6 countries used crawling bands • Monetary authorities intervened to maintain nominal exchange rate in a band around a central rate, and these bands were periodically adjusted • 4 countries employed crawling pegs • Nominal exchange rate was fixed in value to another currency or to a “basket” of other currencies, but adjusted periodically by small amounts • 45 countries pursued fixed exchange rates or fixed pegs • Monetary authorities adopted a policy goal of keeping the nominal exchange rate at a fixed value in terms of another currency or in terms of a “basket” of other currencies • 8 countries pursued an extreme form of fixed exchange rate known as a currency board • Monetary authority is required to fully back up the domestic currency with reserves of foreign currency to which domestic currency is pegged • Relatively large number of (usually very small) countries maintained no independent currency whatsoever
A Model of Fixed Exchange Rates • In contrast to flexible or floating exchange rate regime, we will consider the polar opposite case of a fixed exchange rate regime • Mexico will be our home country • United States will be our foreign country • Although peso began floating in 1995, in previous years, it was fixed against US dollar • Under a fixed exchange rate regime, when Mexican government raises (lowers) e and thereby decreases (increases) value of peso • Called a devaluation (revaluation) of peso • Contrasts with a market-driven, upward movement in e under a flexible exchange rate regime known as a(n) depreciation (appreciation) • In practice, devaluations are more common than revaluations
Table 15.2. Mexican Balance of Payments, 1993 (billions of US dollars)
A Model of Fixed Exchange Rates • Suppose an overvaluation of peso exists (1/e1 > 1/e0) • Implies an excess supply of pesos or an excess demand for dollars • How can this be sustained? • Must be some additional demand for pesos or supply of dollars which can come from • Positive net factor receipts • Positive net transfers (e.g. inflows of foreign aid) • Positive net official reserve transactions • Mexico’s central bank can sell its holdings of dollars (buying pesos) which draws down foreign reserves • Helps eliminate excess supply of pesos or demand for dollars
A Model of Fixed Exchange Rates • Suppose an undervaluation of the peso exists (1/e2 < 1/e0) • Implies an excess demand for pesos or an excess supply of dollars • Situation can be sustained via additional supply of pesos or demand for dollars which can come from • Negative net factor receipts • Negative net transfers • Negative net official reserve transactions • Mexico’s central bank can buy dollars (sell pesos) which builds up foreign reserves • Conclusion: Central banks in countries with overvalued currencies tend to draw down foreign exchange reserves • While central banks in countries with overvalued currencies tend to build up foreign reserves
Interest Rates and Exchange Rates • Suppose Mexican government successfully ensures that a fixed rate e3 is an equilibrium rate • What must be the relationship between e3 and ee? • If e3 is both a fixed and an equilibrium rate, then e3 must equal ee • Causes a change in interest rate parity condition • ee – e = 0 therefore: rM = rUS
Interest Rates and Exchange Rates • For the Mexican government to maintain a fixed, equilibrium exchange rate, it must ensure that its interest rate equals that in United States • By increasing or decreasing rM into equality with rUS, the Mexican government can move SF graph to left or right until equilibrium e and e3 are identical • Complexities of real world cause fixed exchange rates to be maintained with combinations of net factor receipts, net transfers, official reserve transactions, and interest rates • However, one principle is always operable • The farther a fixed exchange rate is from the equilibrium exchange rate, the more difficult it is to maintain for an extended period of time
The Policy Trilemma • “Dilemma” refers to a necessary choice between two undesirable alternatives • “Trilemma” refers to a necessary choice among three undesirable alternatives • Policy trilemma recognizes countries would ideally like to pursue three desired objectives • Monetary independence • Ability to conduct an independent monetary policy with an eye to stabilizing the domestic macroeconomic policy • Exchange rate stability • Ability to avoid destabilizing volatility in nominal exchange rate • Capital mobility • Ability to take advantage of flows on direct and portfolio capital accounts from foreign savings • However, countries must sacrifice one of above desired objectives in order to achieve other two
The Policy Trilemma • Suppose a country wants to maintain both capital mobility and exchange rate stability • Must pursue a fixed exchange rate regime • Must give up monetary independence • If a country wants to maintain its fixed exchange rate as an equilibrium rate, it must adjust its interest rate to that in country to which its currency is pegged • Since interest rates are set via monetary policy, in maintaining capital mobility and exchange rate stability, country must sacrifice its independent monetary policy
The Policy Trilemma • Suppose a country wants to maintain both capital mobility and monetary independence • Must allow currency to float • Must give up exchange rate stability
The Policy Trilemma • Suppose a country wants to maintain both monetary independence and exchange rate stability • Must restrict transactions on capital account of the balance of payments in order to suppress portfolio considerations • Must give up capital mobility