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Measuring the Real Exchange Rate: Pitfalls and Practicalities

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Author Info
Luci Ellis (Reserve Bank of Australia)
Abstract

The real exchange rate is an important concept in economic theory, but it is not directly observable and must be constructed, usually as an index. The construction of such indices requires a number of decisions - which currencies to include, the appropriate weighting scheme and the price measures to use - which materially alter the results. Unfortunately, theory often gives very little guidance on the appropriate assumptions to make when constructing an exchange rate index. This paper discusses the various choices, highlighting their differing implications. Some of the practical issues of calculation are also reviewed. Several exchange rate indices that have been used in analytical work in the Reserve Bank are presented. These will be updated quarterly on the Reserve Bank web site at .

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Paper provided by Reserve Bank of Australia in its series RBA Research Discussion Papers with number rdp2001-04.

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Date of creation: Aug 2001
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Handle: RePEc:rba:rbardp:rdp2001-04

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Related research
Keywords: effective exchange rate; index numbers; real exchange rate index;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data
F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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  1. Meredith Beechey & Nargis Bharucha & Adam Cagliarini & David Gruen & Christopher Thompson, 2000. "A Small Model of the Australian Macroeconomy," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2000-05, Reserve Bank of Australia. [Downloadable!]
  2. Adrian Blundell-Wignall & Jerome Fahrer & Alexandra Heath, 1993. "Major Influences on the Australian Dollar Exchange Rate," RBA Annual Conference Volume, in: Adrian Blundell-Wignall (ed.), The Exchange Rate, International Trade and the Balance of Payments Reserve Bank of Australia. [Downloadable!]
  3. Caves, Douglas W & Christensen, Laurits R & Diewert, W Erwin, 1982. "Multilateral Comparisons of Output, Input, and Productivity Using Superlative Index Numbers," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 92(365), pages 73-86, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. David Norman, 2006. "Modelling Manufactured Exports: Evidence from Australian States," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2006-01, Reserve Bank of Australia. [Downloadable!]
  2. Kalina Dimitrova & Martin Ivanov & Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva, 2009. "Effective exchange rates of the Bulgarian Lev 1879-1939," ICER Working Papers 04-2009, ICER - International Centre for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  3. Kenneth W. Clements & H.Y Izan & Yihui Lan, 2005. "A Stochastic Measure of International Competitiveness," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 05-15, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  4. Chowdhury, Khorshed, 2007. "Are The Real Exchange Rate Indices of Australia Non-Stationary in the Presence of Structural Break?," Economics Working Papers wp07-05, School of Economics, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. [Downloadable!]
  5. Carlos A.Huertas Campos & Consuelo Villalba Torres & Julián A.Parra Polanía, . "Índice de Competitividad Colombiana con Terceros Países en el Mercado Estadounidense (ITCR-C)," Borradores de Economia 273, Banco de la Republica de Colombia. [Downloadable!]
  6. Li, Ying & Rowe, Francis, 2007. "Aid inflows and the real effective exchange rate in Tanzania," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4456, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
  7. Peter Wilson & Henry Ng Shang Ren, 2006. "Managing Exchange Rate Volatility: A Comparative Counterfactual Analysis of Singapore 1994 to 2003," SCAPE Policy Research Working Paper Series 0608, National University of Singapore, Department of Economics, SCAPE. [Downloadable!]
  8. Carlos Huertas Campos & Consuelo Villalba Torres & Julián Parra, 2004. "Índice De Competitividad Colombiana Con Terceros Países En El Mercado Estadounidense (Itcr-C)," BORRADORES DE ECONOMIA 002836, BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA. [Downloadable!]
  9. Nikola Dvornak & Marion Kohler & Gordon Menzies, 2003. "Australia’s Medium-run Exchange Rate: A Macroeconomic Balance Approach," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2003-03, Reserve Bank of Australia. [Downloadable!]
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  10. Sebastian Dullien, 2005. "China's Changing Competitive Position: Lessons from a Unit-Labor- Cost-Based REER," International Trade 0502016, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
  11. Arslan Razmi & Robert Blecker, 2005. "Developing Country Exports of Manufactures: Moving Up the Ladder to Escape the Fallacy of Composition?," Working Papers 2005-02, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics, revised May 2006. [Downloadable!]
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