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Should Korea Worry about a Permanently Weak Yen?

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  • Mr. Jack J Ree
  • Mr. Gee Hee Hong
  • Seoeun Choi

Abstract

Three years have passed since the Bank of Japan’s asset purchase program was introduced in 2011, causing a sharp decline in the value of the Japanese Yen. What would be the implications for Japan and Korea’s exporters if the weak Yen is here to stay? We explore this question by examining exporters’ pricing behaviors and volume responses to exchange rate shocks. We find that if the weak Yen persists, it would strengthen Japan’s price competitiveness over time as export prices respond with a lag. We also find that while direct boosts to export demand will be rather limited, a persistently weaker Yen would expand the Japanese exporters’ profits lastingly, which could reinvigorate the ability, particularly of flagship exporting firms, to compete and grow in the global market over time. These findings suggest that the muted price and volume response so far to the sustained weakness of the Yen may mask a more fundamental shift in the relative competitiveness of Japanese and Korean exporters.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Jack J Ree & Mr. Gee Hee Hong & Seoeun Choi, 2015. "Should Korea Worry about a Permanently Weak Yen?," IMF Working Papers 2015/158, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2015/158
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed Swarnali & Appendino Maximiliano & Ruta Michele, 2017. "Global value chains and the exchange rate elasticity of exports," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Mr. Giovanni Ganelli & Nour Tawk, 2016. "Spillovers from Japan’s Unconventional Monetary Policy to Emerging Asia: a Global VAR approach," IMF Working Papers 2016/099, International Monetary Fund.
    3. Arthur Korus, 2016. "Currency Overvaluation and R&D Spending," EIIW Discussion paper disbei218, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    4. Ryou, Jai Won & Baak, Saang Joon & Kim, Won Joong, 2019. "Effects of Japanese quantitative easing policy on the economies of Japan and Korea," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 241-252.
    5. Ahmed,Swarnali & Appendino,Maximiliano Andres & Ruta,Michele, 2015. "Depreciations without exports ? global value chains and the exchange rate elasticity of exports," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7390, The World Bank.
    6. Ganelli, Giovanni & Tawk, Nour, 2019. "Spillovers from Japan's Unconventional Monetary Policy: A global VAR Approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-163.

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