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Investigating Global Imbalances: Empirical Evidence from a GVAR Approach

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  • Timo Bettendorf

Abstract

This paper investigates the development of external imbalances from an international perspective by estimating a Global VAR model for the period 1981Q1-2009Q4 with a setup close to that of an international real business cycle model. The model considers 28 countries of which 10 are aggregated as the Eurozone. We compute generalized impulse response functions, as well as generalized forecast error variance decompositions, in order to measure the effects of shocks on international trade balances. The United States, Eurozone and China are considered as the sources of those shocks. We account for imbalances using real GDP, real effective exchange rates (REER) and real interest rates (RIR) as well as the oil price. Overall, we find evidence for the joint dynamics of our variables as drivers of the imbalances and relate our findings to theories of Global Imbalances. We show that real GDP is a relatively unimportant variable compared to the REER, RIR and the oil price. Moreover, we provide a counterfactual analysis of the US trade balance.

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  • Timo Bettendorf, 2012. "Investigating Global Imbalances: Empirical Evidence from a GVAR Approach," Studies in Economics 1217, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    • Handle: RePEc:ukc:ukcedp:1217
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    2. Alexander Chudik & M. Hashem Pesaran, 2016. "Theory And Practice Of Gvar Modelling," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 165-197, February.
    3. Chisiridis, Konstantinos & Mouratidis, Kostas & Panagiotidis, Theodore, 2022. "The north-south divide, the euro and the world," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
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    6. Huidan Xue & Chenguang Li & Liming Wang & Wen-Hao Su, 2021. "Spatial Price Transmission and Price Dynamics of Global Butter Export Market under Economic Shocks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-24, August.
    7. Alimov, Behzod, 2022. "The dynamic effects of debt and equity inflows: Evidence from emerging and developing countries," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    8. Xue, Huidan & Li, Chenguang & Wang, Liming, 2018. "The Global Vector Error Correction Model application on the dynamics and drivers of the World Butter Export Prices: Evidence from the U.S., the EU, and New Zealand," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273971, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Anna Sznajderska, 2019. "The role of China in the world economy: evidence from a global VAR model," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(15), pages 1574-1587, March.
    10. Zubarev, Andrei & Kirillova, Maria, 2022. "Modeling COVID-19 spread in the Russian Federation using global VAR approach," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 65, pages 117-138.
    11. Khan, Nazmus Sadat, 2020. "Spillover Effects of Trade Shocks in the Central and Eastern European and Baltic Countries," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 35(1), pages 39-68.
    12. Considine, Jennifer & Galkin, Phillip & Hatipoglu, Emre & Aldayel, Abdullah, 2023. "The effects of a shock to critical minerals prices on the world oil price and inflation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    13. Oyeyinka S. Omoshoro-Jones & Lumengo Bonga-Bonga, 2021. "Global imbalances, external adjustment and propagated shocks: An African perspective from a global VAR model," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 165, pages 186-203.
    14. Cao, Zheng & Li, Gang & Song, Haiyan, 2017. "Modelling the interdependence of tourism demand: The global vector autoregressive approach," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-13.
    15. Zubarev, Andrey & Kirillova, Maria, 2022. "Оценивание Влияния Внешних Шоков На Российскую Экономику С Помощью Модели Gvar [Estimating the impact of external shocks on Russian economy: GVAR approach]," MPRA Paper 113762, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Jul 2022.
    16. Zubarev, Andrey & Kirillova, Maria, 2021. "Эконометрическая Оценка Влияния Шоков На Рынке Нефти На Макроэкономические Показатели Российской Федерации С Помощью Gvar Моделирования [The Impact of Oil Market Shocks on the Macroeconomic Indicat," MPRA Paper 110410, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Nov 2021.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Global Imbalances; Global VAR; International Trade; Open Economy Macroeconomics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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