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A Note On Foreign Exchange Interventions At Zero Interest Rates

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  • Iwata, Shigeru
  • Wu, Shu

Abstract

This note uses a nonlinear structural vector autoregression model to empirically investigate the effectiveness of official foreign exchange (FX) interventions in an economy when interest rates are constrained to the zero level, based on Japanese data in the 1990s. The model allows us to estimate the effects of FX interventions operating through different channels. We find that FX interventions are still capable of influencing the foreign exchange rate in a zero-interest-rate environment, even though their effects are greatly reduced by the zero lower bound on interest rates. Our results suggest that although it might be feasible to use the exchange rate as an alternative monetary policy instrument at zero interest rates as proposed by McCallum (Inflation Targeting and the Liquidity Trap, NBER working paper 8225, 2000), the exchange rate–based Taylor rule may not be very effective in achieving the ultimate policy goals.

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  • Iwata, Shigeru & Wu, Shu, 2012. "A Note On Foreign Exchange Interventions At Zero Interest Rates," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(5), pages 802-817, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:macdyn:v:16:y:2012:i:05:p:802-817_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Fatum, Rasmus, 2015. "Foreign exchange intervention when interest rates are zero: Does the portfolio balance channel matter after all?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 185-199.
    2. Saart, Patrick W. & Xia, Yingcun, 2022. "Functional time series approach to analyzing asset returns co-movements," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 127-151.
    3. Gregor, Jiří & Melecký, Martin, 2018. "The pass-through of monetary policy rate to lending rates: The role of macro-financial factors," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 71-88.
    4. Kitamura, Yoshihiro, 2017. "A stopping time approach to assessing the effectiveness of foreign exchange intervention: An application to Japanese data," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 32-46.
    5. Fatum, Rasmus & Yamamoto, Yohei, 2014. "Large versus small foreign exchange interventions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 114-123.
    6. Moura, Marcelo L. & Pereira, Fatima R. & Attuy, Guilherme de Moraes, 2013. "Currency Wars in Action: How Foreign Exchange Interventions Work in an Emerging Economy," Insper Working Papers wpe_304, Insper Working Paper, Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa.

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