The paper assesses the costs and benefits of active international reserve management (IRM), shedding light on the question of how intense should IRM be for an emerging market. In principle, an active IRM strategy could lower real exchange rate volatility induced by terms of trade shocks; provide self insurance against sudden stops; reduce the speed of adjustment of the current account; and even allow for higher growth if it fosters exports ("mercantilist" motive). The message of the report is mixed -- management of reserves is not a panacea. The mercantilist case for hoarding international reserves, as an ingredient of an export led growth strategy, is dubious. Done properly, IRM augments macro economic management in turbulent times, mitigating the impact of external adverse shocks and allowing for a smoother current account adjustment. These benefits are especially important for commodity exporting countries, and countries with limited financial development.
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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number
12734.
Length: Date of creation: Dec 2006 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12734
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Find related papers by JEL classification: F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration F4 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance
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Franklin Allen & Douglas Gale, 1998.
"Optimal Financial Crises,"
Journal of Finance,
American Finance Association, vol. 53(4), pages 1245-1284, 08.
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