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Limits of Monetary Policy Autonomy by East Asian Debtor Central Banks

Author

Listed:
  • Axel Löffler
  • Gunther Schnabl
  • Franziska Schobert

Abstract

Due to buoyant capital inflows East Asian central banks with exchange rate targets accumulate foreign reserves and thereby increase surplus liquidity. East Asian central banks with more flexible exchange rate regimes also face surplus liquidity that mainly emanates from past accumulation of foreign reserves. We show based on an augmented Barro-Gordon-type central bank loss function that in both cases surplus liquidity limits monetary policy autonomy. In case of fixed exchange rates East Asian central banks can escape from the impossible trinity and gain monetary policy autonomy by using non-market–based sterilization which leads to financial sector distortions. In a flexible exchange rate regime monetary policy autonomy can be gained without financial sector distortions by using market-based sterilization. As central banks face substantial sterilization costs as well as revaluation losses on foreign reserves, however, monetary policy autonomy is eroded.

Suggested Citation

  • Axel Löffler & Gunther Schnabl & Franziska Schobert, 2012. "Limits of Monetary Policy Autonomy by East Asian Debtor Central Banks," CESifo Working Paper Series 3742, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xie, Taojun & Liu, Jingting & Alba, Joseph D. & Chia, Wai-Mun, 2017. "Does wage-inflation targeting complement foreign exchange intervention? An evaluation of a multi-target, two-instrument monetary policy framework," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 68-81.
    2. Ronald McKinnon, 2013. "Hot Money Flows, Commodity Price Cycles and Financial Repression in the USA and China: The Consequences of Near-zero US Interest Rates," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 21(4), pages 1-13, July.
    3. McKinnon, Ronald, 2012. "Carry trades, interest differentials, and international monetary reform," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 549-567.
    4. Hoffmann, Andreas & Löffler, Axel, 2014. "Low interest rate policy and the use of reserve requirements in emerging markets," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 307-314.
    5. McKinnon, Ronald & Liu, Zhao, 2013. "Hot Money Flows, Commodity Price Cycles, and Financial Repression in the US and the People’s Republic of China: The Consequences of Near Zero US Interest Rates," Working Papers on Regional Economic Integration 107, Asian Development Bank.
    6. Stefan Angrick, 2015. "Global Liquidity and Monetary Policy Autonomy," IMK Working Paper 159-2015, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
    7. Ronald McKinnon & Zhao Liu, 2013. "Zero Interest Rates in the United States Provoke World Monetary Instability and Constrict the US Economy," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(1), pages 49-56, February.
    8. Steiner, Andreas, 2017. "Central banks and macroeconomic policy choices: Relaxing the trilemma," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 283-299.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    debtor central banks; monetary policy autonomy; sterilization; exchange rate regime; East Asia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange

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