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Exchange Rate Pass‐Through To Import Prices In South Africa: Is There Asymmetry?1

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  • Tapiwa D. Karoro
  • Meshach J. Aziakpono
  • Nicolette Cattaneo

Abstract

This paper examines the magnitude and speed of exchange rate pass‐through (ERPT) to import prices in South Africa. It further explores whether the direction and size of changes in the exchange rate have different pass‐through effects on import prices, i.e. whether the exchange rate pass‐through is symmetric or asymmetric. The findings of the study suggest that ERPT in South Africa is incomplete but relatively high. Furthermore, ERPT is found to be higher in periods of rand depreciation than appreciation, which supports the binding quantity constraint theory. There is also evidence to suggest that pass‐through is slightly higher in periods of small changes than large changes in the exchange rate in harmony with the menu cost theory when the invoices are denominated in the exporters' currency.

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  • Tapiwa D. Karoro & Meshach J. Aziakpono & Nicolette Cattaneo, 2009. "Exchange Rate Pass‐Through To Import Prices In South Africa: Is There Asymmetry?1," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 77(3), pages 380-398, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sajeco:v:77:y:2009:i:3:p:380-398
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1813-6982.2009.01216.x
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    2. Safet Kurtović & Nehat Maxhuni & Blerim Halili & Sead Talović, 2021. "Asymmetric exchange rate pass‐through into import prices of Slovenia's manufacturing sector," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 4609-4633, July.
    3. Harris Maduku & Irrshad Kaseeram, 2018. "An Empirical Analysis of Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Prices in South Africa (2002-2016)," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(5), pages 187-194.
    4. Muellbauer, John & Sinclair, Peter & Aron, Janine & Farrell, Greg, 2010. "Exchange Rate Pass-through and Monetary Policy in South Africa," CEPR Discussion Papers 8153, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Goodwin, Barry K. & Holt, Matthew T. & Prestemon, Jeffrey P., 2019. "Nonlinear exchange rate pass-through in timber products: The case of oriented strand board in Canada and the United States," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    6. Alain Kabundi & Asi Mbelu, 2018. "Has the Exchange Rate Pass‐Through changed in South Africa?," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 86(3), pages 339-360, September.
    7. Alain N. Kabundi & Mr. Montfort Mlachila, 2018. "Monetary Policy Credibility and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in South Africa," IMF Working Papers 2018/173, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Balcilar, Mehmet & Usman, Ojonugwa, 2021. "Exchange rate and oil price pass-through in the BRICS countries: Evidence from the spillover index and rolling-sample analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    9. World Bank, 2011. "South Africa Economic Update, November 2011," World Bank Publications - Reports 26854, The World Bank Group.
    10. Kabundi, Alain & Mlachila, Montfort, 2019. "The role of monetary policy credibility in explaining the decline in exchange rate pass-through in South Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 173-185.
    11. Humphrey Fandamu & Manenga Ndulo & Dale Mudenda & Mercy Fandamu, 2023. "Asymmetric Exchange Rate Pass Through to Consumer Prices: Evidence from Zambia," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 58(4), pages 504-523, November.
    12. Mehmet Balcilar & David Roubaud & Ojonugwa Usman & Mark E. Wohar, 2021. "Testing the asymmetric effects of exchange rate pass‐through in BRICS countries: Does the state of the economy matter?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(1), pages 188-233, January.
    13. Diby François Kassi & Dilesha Nawadali Rathnayake & Akadje Jean Roland Edjoukou & Yobouet Thierry Gnangoin & Pierre Axel Louembe & Ning Ding & Gang Sun, 2019. "Asymmetry in Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Consumer Prices: New Perspective from Sub-Saharan African Countries," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-33, January.
    14. Mehmet Balcilar & Usman Ojonugwa, 2018. "Exchange rate and oil price pass-through to inflation in BRICS countries: Evidence from the spillover index and rolling-sample analysis," Working Papers 15-45, Eastern Mediterranean University, Department of Economics.
    15. Mehmet Balcilar & David Roubaud & Ojonugwa Usman & Mark E. Wohar, 2019. "Testing the Asymmetric Effects of Exchange Rate and Oil Price Pass-Through in BRICS Countries: Does the state of the economy matter?," Working Papers 15-49, Eastern Mediterranean University, Department of Economics.
    16. Oluwasheyi Oladipo, 2017. "The Effects of Inflation Targeting on Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Domestic Prices: A Case Study of South Africa," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(6), pages 1-4.
    17. Tatiana Lysenko & Geoff Barnard, 2011. "Strengthening the Macroeconomic Policy Framework in South Africa," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 847, OECD Publishing.

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