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Foreign currency borrowing and knowledge about exchange rate risk

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  • Beckmann, Elisabeth
  • Stix, Helmut

Abstract

Foreign currency loans by unhedged borrowers are widespread in many regions of the world. Against this background, we study whether the demand for foreign currency loans is driven by a lack of knowledge about the exchange rate risk emanating from such loans. We employ individual-level survey data from eight Central and Eastern European countries that provides information on agents’ knowledge about exchange rate risk. Results show, first, that a majority of respondents is aware that depreciations increase loan installments. Second, we find that knowledge about the exchange rate risk exerts a strong impact on the choice of the loan currency.

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  • Beckmann, Elisabeth & Stix, Helmut, 2015. "Foreign currency borrowing and knowledge about exchange rate risk," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:112:y:2015:i:c:p:1-16
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2014.12.015
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    2. Elisabeth Beckmann & Christa Hainz & Sarah Reiter, 2022. "Third-Party Loan Guarantees: Measuring Literacy and its Effect on Financial Decisions (Elisabeth Beckmann, Christa Hainz, Sarah Reiter)," Working Papers 237, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank).
    3. Vonnák, Dzsamila, 2018. "Why do firms default on their foreign currency loans? The case of Hungary," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 207-222.
    4. Mihai Copaciu & Joana Madjoska & Mite Miteski, 2021. "A DSGE Model with Partial Euroization: The Case of the Macedonian Economy," Economy, Business & Development: An International Journal, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics-Skopje, vol. 2(2), pages 57-118, November.
    5. Fischer, Andreas M. & Yeşin, Pınar, 2022. "Foreign currency loan conversions and currency mismatches," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    6. Alin Marius Andrieş & Simona Nistor, 2018. "Systemic Risk and Foreign Currency Positions of Banks: Evidence from Emerging Europe," Eastern European Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(5), pages 382-421, September.
    7. Gyongyosi, Gyozo & Verner, Emil, 2018. "Financial Crisis, Creditor-Debtor Conflict, and Political Extremism," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181587, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    8. Martin Brown & Ralph De Haas & Vladimir Sokolov, 2018. "Regional Inflation, Banking Integration, and Dollarization [On the unstable relationship between exchange rates and macroeconomic fundamentals]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 22(6), pages 2073-2108.
    9. Elisabeth Beckmann & Sarah Reiter, 2020. "How financially literate is CESEE? Insights from the OeNB Euro Survey," Focus on European Economic Integration, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q3/20, pages 36-59.
    10. Ana Kundid Novokmet, 2021. "Troubles with the Chf Loans in Croatia: The Story of a Case Still Waiting to Be Closed," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, February.
    11. Aiba, Daiju & Odajima, Ken & Khou, Vouthy, 2017. "Foreign Currency Borrowing and Risk-Hedging Behavior: Evidence from a Household Survey in Cambodia," Working Papers 143, JICA Research Institute.
    12. Pavlo Illiashenko, 2017. "Behavioral Finance: Household Investment and Borrowing Decisions," Visnyk of the National Bank of Ukraine, National Bank of Ukraine, issue 242, pages 28-48.
    13. Thomas Scheiber & Julia Wörz, 2018. "How are reduced interest rate differentials affecting euroization in Southeastern Europe? Evidence from the OeNB Euro Survey," Focus on European Economic Integration, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q1-18, pages 48-60.
    14. Bettina Greimel-Fuhrmann & Maria Antoinette Silgoner & Rosa Weber, 2015. "Financial literacy gaps of the Austrian population," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 2, pages 35-51.
    15. Elisabeth Beckmann, 2017. "How does foreign currency debt relief affect households’ loan demand? Evidence from the OeNB Euro Survey in CESEE," Focus on European Economic Integration, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 1, pages 8-32.
    16. Aiba, Daiju & Odajima, Ken & Khou, Vouthy, 2018. "Foreign currency borrowing and risk-hedging behavior: Evidence from Cambodian households," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 19-35.
    17. Obadia Kyetuza Bishoge & Benatus Norbert Mvile, 2020. "The “resource curse” from the oil and natural gas sector: how can Tanzania avoid it in reality?," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 33(3), pages 389-404, October.
    18. ODAJIMA, Ken & 小田島, 健, 2016. "Foreign Currency Usage and Perception: Evidence from a Survey on Cambodian Households," Discussion Papers 2016-11, Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.
    19. Markus Eller & Branimir Jovanovic & Thomas Scheiber, 2021. "What do people in CESEE think about public debt?," Focus on European Economic Integration, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q3/21, pages 35-58.
    20. Harasztosi, Péter & Kátay, Gábor, 2020. "Currency matching by non-financial corporations," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    21. Антонова Любовь Александровна & Шиндина Татьяна Александровна, 2015. "Анализ Результатов Организации Валютного Контроля На Примере Челябинской Области," Bulletin of the South Ural State University. Series: Economics and management Вестник Южно-Уральского государственного университета. Серия: Экономика и менеджмент, CyberLeninka;Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет», vol. 9(1), pages 81-87.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household borrowing; Financial literacy; Foreign currency loans; Emerging economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General

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