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A Fiscal Price Tag for International Reserves

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  • David Hauner

Abstract

This paper examines the (quasi‐)fiscal impact of the (opportunity) cost of international reserves. It proposes a conceptual framework, with particular emphasis on two hitherto somewhat neglected aspects: a more appropriate measure of gross opportunity cost, and potential savings from lower external debt spreads that countries ‘buy’ by holding reserves. The framework is then applied to 100 countries over 1990–2004. The results suggest that a turning point has been reached in recent years: while most countries made money on their reserves during 1990–2001, most have been losing money during 2002–04.

Suggested Citation

  • David Hauner, 2006. "A Fiscal Price Tag for International Reserves," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(2), pages 169-195, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:intfin:v:9:y:2006:i:2:p:169-195
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2362.2006.00179.x
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    1. Graham Bird & Ramkishen Rajan, 2003. "Too Much of a Good Thing? The Adequacy of International Reserves in the Aftermath of Crises," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(6), pages 873-891, June.
    2. Kletzer, Kenneth & Spiegel, Mark M., 2004. "Sterilization costs and exchange rate targeting," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 897-915, October.
    3. Ben-Bassat, Avraham & Gottlieb, Daniel, 1992. "On the Effect of Opportunity Cost on International Reserve Holdings," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 74(2), pages 329-332, May.
    4. Darrell Duffie & Lasse Heje Pedersen & Kenneth J. Singleton, 2003. "Modeling Sovereign Yield Spreads: A Case Study of Russian Debt," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(1), pages 119-159, February.
    5. Edwards, Sebastian, 1985. "On the interest-rate elasticity of the demand for international reserves: Some evidence from developing countries," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 287-295, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jeanne, Olivier & Sandri, Damiano, 2020. "Optimal reserves in financially closed economies," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
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    4. Andrew Filardo & Stephen Grenville, 2012. "Central bank balance sheets and foreign exchange rate regimes: understanding the nexus in Asia," BIS Papers chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Are central bank balance sheets in Asia too large?, volume 66, pages 76-110, Bank for International Settlements.
    5. Ejaz Ghani, 2011. "Reshaping Tomorrow : Is South Asia Ready for the Big Leap?," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 16360, December.
    6. Shodiya Olayinka Abideen & Sanyaolu Wasiu Abiodun & Ojenike Joseph Olushola & Ogunmefun Gbadebo Tirimisiyu, 2019. "Shareholder Wealth Maximization and Investment Decisions of Nigerian Food and Beverage Companies," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 7(1), pages 47-63, December.
    7. David Hauner & Manmohan S. Kumar, 2009. "Financial Conditions And Fiscal Performance In Emerging Markets," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 27(1), pages 86-96, January.
    8. Mendoza, Ronald U., 2010. "Was the Asian crisis a wake-up call?: Foreign reserves as self-protection," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Chee-Hong Law, 2023. "The Impacts of International Reserves on Monetary Independence in Emerging Countries: An Asymmetric Analysis," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 15(1), pages 53-71, January.
    10. Ms. Era Dabla-Norris & Mr. Jun I Kim & Ms. Kazuko Shirono, 2011. "Optimal Precautionary Reserves for Low-Income Countries: A Cost-Benefit Analysis," IMF Working Papers 2011/249, International Monetary Fund.
    11. International Monetary Fund, 2011. "Russian Federation: Staff Report for the 2011 Article IV Consultation," IMF Staff Country Reports 2011/294, International Monetary Fund.
    12. Pina, Gonçalo, 2017. "International reserves and global interest rates," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 371-385.
    13. David Archer & Paul Moser-Boehm, 2013. "Central bank finances," BIS Papers, Bank for International Settlements, number 71.
    14. Cerezo Aguirre, Sergio Cerezo Aguirre, 2010. "Consideraciones sobre el nivel óptimo de reservas internacionales para Bolivia: 2003-2009," Revista Latinoamericana de Desarrollo Economico, Carrera de Economía de la Universidad Católica Boliviana (UCB) "San Pablo", issue 14, pages 41-70.
    15. Olivier Jeanne, 2007. "International Reserves in Emerging Market Countries: Too Much of a Good Thing?," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 38(1), pages 1-80.

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