Guy Meredith

Monetary Policy and Long-Horizon Uncovered Interest Parity *

Uncovered interest parity (UIP) has been almost universally rejected in studies of exchange rate movements. In contrast to previous studies, which have used short-horizon data, we test UIP using interest rates on longer-maturity bonds for the Group of Seven countries. These long-horizon regressions yield much more support for UIP-all of the coefficients on interest differentials are of the correct sign, and almost all are closer to the UIP value of unity than to zero. We then use a macroeconomic model to explain the differences between the short- and long-horizon results. Regressions run on model-generated data replicate the important regularities in the actual data, including the sharp differences between short- and long-horizon parameters. In the short run, the failure of UIP results from the interaction of stochastic exchange market shocks with endogenous monetary policy reactions. In the long run, in contrast, exchange rate movements are driven by the “fundamental,” leading to a relationship between interest rates and exchange rates that is more consistent with UIP.

Asymmetric Effects of Economic Activity on Inflation: Evidence and Policy Implications

Data for the G-7 countries strongly support the view that economic activity has a nonlinear effect on inflation, with high levels of activity raising inflation by more than low levels decrease it. In the face of such asymmetries, the average level of output in an economy subject to demand shocks will be below the level of output at which there is no tendency for inflation to rise or fall, contrary to linear model predictions. One implication is that policymakers can raise the average level of output over time by responding promptly to demand shocks, reducing the variance of output around trend.

How Has NAFTA Affected the Mexican Economy? Review and Evidence

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of NAFTA on growth and business cycles in Mexico. The effect of the agreement in spurring a dramatic increase in trade and financial flows between Mexico and its NAFTA partners, and its impact on Mexican economic growth and business cycle dy-namics, are documented with reference both to stylized facts and recent empiri-cal research. The paper concludes by drawing lessons from Mexico’s NAFTA experience for policymakers in developing countries. The foremost of these is that in an increasingly globalized trading system, bilateral and regional free trade arrangements should be used to accelerate, rather than postpone, needed struc-tural reform.

Asymmetric Effects of Economic Activityon Inflation; Evidence and Policy Implications

This paper examines the evidence on asymmetries in the effects of activity on inflation. Data for the G-7 countries are found to strongly support the view that the inflation-activity relationship is nonlinear, with high levels of activity raising inflation by more than low levels decrease it. In the face of such asymmetries, the average level of output in an economy subject to demand shocks will be below the level of output at which there is no tendency for inflation to rise or fall, contrary to the implications of linear models. One implication of these results is that policymakers can raise the average level of output over time by responding promptly to demand shocks, thus reducing the variance of output around trend.

Why has the Euro been so Weak

The weakness of the euro has been surprising given the widely-held expectation that it would be a strong currency. This paper critically examines explanations for the slide in the euro, finding that many are questionable on conceptual or empirical grounds. Two explanations are instead advanced that appear to be consistent both with theory and data. The first originates in the global surge in equity prices since the mid-1990s, which created a demand shock that disproportionately affected the U.S. economy. Model simulations indicate that this can explain the strength of the dollar against other currencies in recent years, accounting for about half of the decline in the effective value of the euro. The other component of euro weakness can be attributed to a mismatch between the demand and supply of euro-denominated assets that arose with the creation of the single currency in 1999. The effect of both these factors should fade over time, although near-term market volatility could be exacerbated by uncertainties about the fundamentals driving currency values.

Testing Uncovered Interest Parity at Short and Long Horizons

The unbiasedness hypothesis - the joint hypothesis of uncovered interest parity (UIP) and rational expectations - has been almost universally rejected in studies of exchange rate movements. In contrast to previous studies, which have used short-horizon data, we test this hypothesis using interest rates on longer-maturity bonds for the G-7 countries. The results of these long-horizon regressions are much more positive - the coefficients on interest differentials are of the correct sign, and almost all are closer to the predicted value of unity than to zero. These results are robust to changes in data type and to base currency (i.e., Deutschemark versus US dollar). We appeal to an econometric interpretation of the results, which focuses on the presence of simultaneity in a cointegration framework.

Debt Dynamics and Global Imbalances; Some Conventional Views Reconsidered

We use a general-equilibrium model to explain the rise in global trade and payments imbalances since the mid-1990s, and then to construct adjustment paths to a steady state. Assuming that the shocks giving rise to the imbalances do not suddenly reverse, simulated movements in the U.S. trade deficit and exchange rate are smaller and more gradual than suggested by partial-equilibrium analyses. An important factor reducing the size of the adjustments is a simulated real interest rate on U.S. external liabilities that is below both the interest rate on external assets and the U.S. real economic growth rate. In addition, the adjustment takes place over an extended period without significantly raising the share of U.S. assets in foreign portfolios, in part because depreciation of the dollar requires continued foreign accumulation of U.S. assets just to keep their portfolio share constant.

A Currency Board Model of Hong Kong

The need for a deeper understanding of the operation of Hong Kongs currency board arrangements was highlighted during the Asian financial crisis in 1998. A model-based approach built on hypothetical stochastic simulations would be useful for this purpose. This paper develops a new procedure of implementing stochastic simulations in a currency board model for Hong Kong. Our new procedure is useful in the context of a nonlinear model with forward-looking expectations under conditions of noncertainty-equivalence, such as the model of Hong Kongs currency board. A simple target-zone model of the exchange rate is used as an example to illustrate the difference between our new simulation procedure and existing procedures in the literature. Finally, the new procedure is applied to the currency board model to investigate the stochastic properties of endogenous variables under a wide range of shocks.

Revisiting Japan`s External Adjustment Since 1985

The factors that explain Japan’s external performance since the mid-1980s are controversial. While the current account surplus eventually declined following exchange rate changes in 1985-86, a widening since 1990 has led to renewed scepticism about the role of relative price movements in bringing about external adjustment. This paper revisits the post-1985 experience to determine whether it can be explained by traditional factors. The results indicate that, over the period as a whole, the behavior of trade volumes and prices was similar to that predicted by traditional relationships. In particular, relative price movements played an important role in reducing the surplus: in their absence, it would have widened further.

REPMOD: A Smaller Sibling for MULTIMOD

This paper describes a small macroeconomic model based on a representative industrial-country block of MULTIMOD, the IMF`s multi-country simulation model. REPMOD is designed to provide a more flexible and accessible tool for analysis by individual country desks than the full version of MULTIMOD. It also allows the construction of model-consistent baseline paths, in addition to conventional shock-minus-control experiments. After discussing the model`s general structure and properties, some distinctive aspects are illustrated via simulations that explore the implications of Japan`s liquidity trap.