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Fixed Exchange Rates and the Autonomy of Monetary Policy: The Franc Zone Case

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  • Mr. Romain M Veyrune

Abstract

This paper compares monetary policy of currency boards with that of the franc zone during the period 1956-2005. It concludes that monetary policy in the zone was more autonomous than under a currency board, even though both systems faced the same exchange rate constraint. So far, the contingency line provided by the French treasury and capital controls have allowed the zone to combine a fixed exchange rate and a relatively autonomous monetary policy. Financial development and zone enlargement would challenge this relative autonomy for two reasons: (1) the potential cost to the French treasury would increase; and (2) residents would potentially be able to avoid capital controls. For the zone to maintain its fixed exchange rate, close targeting of foreign reserves would become important.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Romain M Veyrune, 2007. "Fixed Exchange Rates and the Autonomy of Monetary Policy: The Franc Zone Case," IMF Working Papers 2007/034, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2007/034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Meissner, Christopher M. & Oomes, Nienke, 2009. "Why do countries peg the way they peg? The determinants of anchor currency choice," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 522-547, April.
    2. NANA DAVIES, Charles, 2018. "Sources of Macroeconomic Fluctuations in a Franc Zone Country: A Bayesian estimation," MPRA Paper 99998, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Carsten Hefeker, 2010. "Fiscal reform and monetary union in West Africa," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(1), pages 86-102.
    4. Fadia Al Hajj & Gilles Dufrénot & Kimiko Sugimoto & Romain Wolf, 2015. "Reactions to Shocks and Monetary Policy Regimes: Inflation Targeting Versus Flexible Currency Board in Sub-Saharan Africa," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 53(4), pages 237-271, December.
    5. João Loureiro & Evaldo Baptista, 2021. "A single currency for the Economic Community of West Africa? An economic assessment," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 89(4), pages 608-634, December.
    6. Fadia Al Hajj & Gilles Dufr??not, & Kimiko Sugimoto & Romain Wolf, 2013. "Reactions to Shocks and Monetary Policy Regimes: Inflation Targeting Versus Flexible Currency Board in Ghana, South Africa and the WAEMU," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp1062, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    7. NANA DAVIES, Charles, 2020. "Land Collateral and Rule-of-Thumb Households in a Franc Zone Country: A Bayesian Appraisal," MPRA Paper 100000, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Lampe, Florian, 2022. "Interest Rate Policy of the Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest: International Currency Hierarchy, Monetary Base Coverage, and Bank Lending in the WAEMU," ZÖSS-Discussion Papers 76, University of Hamburg, Centre for Economic and Sociological Studies (CESS/ZÖSS), revised 2022.
    9. Jorge Braga de Macedo & Luis Pereira & Afonso Reis, 2009. "Comparing Exchange Market Pressure across Five African Countries," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 645-682, November.

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