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The Policy Interest-Rate Pass-Through in Central America

Author

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  • Ms. Stephanie C Medina Cas
  • Mr. Alejandro Carrion-Menendez
  • Ms. Florencia Frantischek

Abstract

Several Central American (CADR) central banks with independent monetary policies have adopted policy interest rates as their main instrument to signal their monetary policy stances, often in the context of adopting or transitioning to inflation targeting regimes. This paper finds that the interest-rate transmission mechanism, or the pass-through of the policy rate to market rates, is generally weaker and slower in CADR than in the LA6, the countries selected as benchmarks. A variety of potential factors behind this finding are examined, including the degrees of financial dollarization, exchange rate flexibility, bank concentration, financial sector development, and fiscal dominance. Through panel data analysis, the study suggests that the transmission mechanism can be strengthened by increasing exchange rate flexibility, and, over time, by adopting measures towards reducing financial dollarization, developing the financial sector, and reducing bank concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Stephanie C Medina Cas & Mr. Alejandro Carrion-Menendez & Ms. Florencia Frantischek, 2011. "The Policy Interest-Rate Pass-Through in Central America," IMF Working Papers 2011/240, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2011/240
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rutayisire, Musoni J., 2017. "Modelling interest rate pass-through in Rwanda: is the interest rate dynamics symmetric or asymmetric ?," MPRA Paper 90178, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 23 Sep 2018.
    3. Abuka, Charles & Alinda, Ronnie K. & Minoiu, Camelia & Peydró, José-Luis & Presbitero, Andrea F., 2019. "Monetary policy and bank lending in developing countries: Loan applications, rates, and real effects," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 185-202.
    4. Francesco Grigoli & José M. Mota, 2017. "Interest rate pass-through in the Dominican Republic," Latin American Economic Review, Springer;Centro de Investigaciòn y Docencia Económica (CIDE), vol. 26(1), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Bennouna, Hicham, 2019. "Interest rate pass-through in Morocco: Evidence from bank-level survey data," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 142-157.
    6. Egorov, Aleksei V. (Егоров, Алексей В.) & Borzykh, Olga A. (Борзых, Ольга А.), 2018. "Asymmetric Interest Rate Pass-Through in Russia [Асимметрия Процентного Канала Денежной Трансмиссии В России]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 1, pages 92-121, February.
    7. harraou, Khalid, 2019. "Analyse du pass-through du taux d’intérêt au Maroc [Analysis of the interest rate in Morocco]," MPRA Paper 94968, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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