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Central banks and macroeconomic policy choices: Relaxing the trilemma

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  • Steiner, Andreas

Abstract

Macroeconomic policy choices in open economies are constrained by the trilemma according to which the objectives of exchange rate stability, monetary independence and capital mobility cannot be attained jointly. This paper shows that foreign exchange interventions provide an effective instrument to relax the trilemma. An active reserve policy allows central banks to pursue independent monetary and exchange rate policies when the capital account is liberalised.

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  • Steiner, Andreas, 2017. "Central banks and macroeconomic policy choices: Relaxing the trilemma," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 283-299.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:77:y:2017:i:c:p:283-299
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2015.07.005
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    2. Ergin Akalpler & Simbarashe Hove, 2022. "Monetary policy and capital flow implications on economic growth in BRICS countries," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 253-274, February.
    3. Pierre-Richard Agénor & Timothy P. Jackson & Luiz Pereira da Silva, 2020. "Foreign Exchange Intervention and Financial Stability," Working Papers 202027, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.
    4. George Pantelopoulos, 2024. "Can external sustainability be decoupled from the NIIP?," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 89-116, February.
    5. Ouyang, Alice Y. & Guo, Shen, 2019. "Macro-prudential policies, the global financial cycle and the real exchange rate," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 147-167.
    6. Solikin M. Juhro, 2023. "Future Central Banking In Emerging Market Economies," Working Papers WP/01/2023, Bank Indonesia.
    7. Viet‐Ngu Hoang & Duc Khuong Nguyen & Tuan Pham, 2021. "On the effects of monetary policy in Vietnam: Evidence from a Trilemma analysis," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5), pages 1428-1447, May.
    8. Steiner, Andreas & Steinkamp, Sven & Westermann, Frank, 2019. "Exit strategies, capital flight and speculative attacks: Europe's version of the trilemma," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 83-96.
    9. Chee-Hong Law & Chee-Lip Tee & Wei-Theng Lau, 2019. "The Impacts of Financial Integration on the Linkages Between Monetary Independence and Foreign Exchange Reserves," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 212-235, April.
    10. Gabriel Caldas Montes & Irineu da Silva Rodrigues Júnior & Júlio Cesar Albuquerque Bastos & Linican Monteiro Batista, 2024. "Effects of monetary policy credibility and the open economy trilemma on monetary policy efficiency," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 1236-1258, April.
    11. Ahmed, Rashad, 2020. "Monetary Policy Spillovers under Intermediate Exchange Rate Regimes," MPRA Paper 98852, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo, 2024. "Assessing the impossible trinity principle in BRICS grouping," MPRA Paper 121839, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Oguzhan Ozcelebi & Kaya Tokmakcioglu & Emre Su, 2021. "Revisiting the asymmetric impacts of the exchange market pressure on the inflation, interest rate and foreign trade balance in Eastern Europe," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 61(5), pages 2517-2538, November.

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    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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