In this paper we analyze the macroeconomic record of "strictly dollarized" economies. In particular, we investigate whether dollarized countries have historically exhibited faster growth and lower volatility than countries with a domestic currency. We analyze this issue by using a treatment regression analysis that estimates jointly the probability of being a dollarized country, and outcome equations. Our analysis indicates that the probability of being a dollarized country depends on regional, geographical, political, and structural variables. Our results also suggest that GDP per capita growth has not been statistically different in dollarized and in non-dollarized countries. We also find that volatility has been significantly higher in dollarized than in non-dollarized economies. These results are robust to the estimation technique, and to the sample used.
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Volume (Year): 38 (2006) Issue (Month): 1 (February) Pages: 269-282 Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML
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Alberto Alesina & Robert J. Barro & Silvana Tenreyro, 2002.
"Optimal Currency Areas,"
NBER Working Papers
9072, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Alberto Alesina & Robert J. Barro & Silvana Tenreyro, 2003.
"Optimal Currency Areas,"
NBER Chapters,
in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2002, Volume 17, pages 301-356
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!]
Alberto Alesina & Robert J. Barro, 2000.
"Currency Unions,"
NBER Working Papers
7927, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
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