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How competitiveness shocks affect macroeconomic performance across euro area countries

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  • Staehr, Karsten
  • Vermeulen, Robert

Abstract

This paper considers the short-term effects of competitiveness shocks on macroeconomic performance in the euro area. Vector autoregressive models are estimated on quarterly data from 1995 to 2013 for individual countries and the whole euro area. The results show that competitiveness shocks help to explain subsequent GDP developments in most countries but have little explanatory power for the current account balance and domestic credit. These results apply for all of the competitiveness measures considered, but a non-traditional competitiveness measure accounting for quality differences fares better in some cases. The effects of the competitiveness measures vary substantially across the countries in the euro area, which likely reflects their different economic structures and institutions. This heterogeneity suggests that policy measures seeking to improve competitiveness may have very different effects on economic performance and financial stability in different countries. JEL Classification: E32, E61, F32

Suggested Citation

  • Staehr, Karsten & Vermeulen, Robert, 2016. "How competitiveness shocks affect macroeconomic performance across euro area countries," Working Paper Series 1940, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20161940
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Javier Ordóñez & Karsten Staehr, 2019. "Unit labour costs and the dynamics of output and unemployment in the southern European crisis countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 46(3), pages 597-616, August.
    4. Joscha Beckmann & Mariarosaria Comunale, 2020. "Exchange rate fluctuations and the financial channel in emerging economies," Bank of Lithuania Working Paper Series 83, Bank of Lithuania.
    5. OSUJI Emeka, 2020. "Intra-African Trade, Macroeconomic Conditions And Competitiveness In Africa," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 15(1), pages 171-193, April.
    6. Joscha Beckmann & Mariarosaria Comunale, 2020. "Exchange rate fluctuations and the financial channel in emerging economies," Bank of Lithuania Working Paper Series 83, Bank of Lithuania.
    7. Ambaw, Dessie & Pundit, Madhavi & Ramayandi, Arief & Sim, Nicholas, 2022. "Real Exchange Rate Misalignment and Business Cycle Fluctuations in Asia and the Pacific," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 651, Asian Development Bank.
    8. Dessie Ambaw & Madhavi Pundit & Arief Ramayandi & Nicholas Sim, 2023. "Real exchange rate misalignment and business cycle fluctuations in the Asia‐Pacific," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 37(2), pages 164-189, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    competitiveness; euro area; macroeconomic variables; transmission;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements

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