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Consumption Smoothing and the Current Account: Evidence for France, 1970-1994

Author

Listed:
  • Claude Bismut
  • Mr. Paul Cashin
  • Mr. C. John McDermott
  • Pierre-Richard Agénor

Abstract

This paper estimates a simple consumption-smoothing model of the French current account, and examines its capacity to predict recent developments in France’s external performance. The model views the current account as a buffer through which private agents can smooth consumption over time in response to temporary disturbances to output, investment, and government expenditure. The empirical results indicate that the model performs well overall, and predicts correctly the sharp turnaround in France’s external accounts observed in the past three years—a feature of the data that conventional models of trade flows, based on income and relative price variables, appear unable to explain.

Suggested Citation

  • Claude Bismut & Mr. Paul Cashin & Mr. C. John McDermott & Pierre-Richard Agénor, 1995. "Consumption Smoothing and the Current Account: Evidence for France, 1970-1994," IMF Working Papers 1995/119, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:1995/119
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    File URL: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=1974
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Fabio Scacciavillani & Mr. Malcolm D. Knight, 1998. "Current Accounts: What Is Their Relevance for Economic Policymaking?," IMF Working Papers 1998/071, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Nilss Olekalns, 1997. "Australian Evidence on Tax Smoothing and the Optimal Budget Surplus," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 73(222), pages 248-257, September.
    3. Olekalns, Nilss, 1997. "Australian Evidence on Tax Smoothing and the Optimal Budget Surplus," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 73(222), pages 248-257, September.

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