Optimal real exchange rate targeting: a stochastic analysis

This paper extends the literature on real exchange rate targeting inside a stochastic optimization framework where the real exchange rate displays long run mean reversion while temporarily reflecting a “liquidity effect”. When real exchange rate volatility is constant, an active stabilization rule is welfare increasing with respect to non intervention only beyond a given volatility threshold. Moreover, the welfare gains are larger the lower is the degree of mean reversion. Under a stochastic volatility assumption, the policy maker’s intertemporal discount rate has instead a major influence, and real exchange rate targeting is welfare increasing only if the policymaker is sufficiently farsighted.