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Deciphering the Macroeconomic Effects of Internal Devaluations in a Monetary Union

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Andrés
  • Óscar Arce
  • Jesús Fernández-Villaverde
  • Samuel Hurtado

Abstract

We study the macroeconomic effects of internal devaluations undertaken by a periphery of countries belonging to a monetary union. We find that internal devaluations have large and positive output effects in the long run. Through an expectations channel, most of these effects carry over to the short run. Internal devaluations focused on goods markets reforms are generally more powerful in stimulating growth than reforms aimed at moderating wages, but the latter are less deflationary. For a monetary union with a periphery the size of the euro area's, the countries at the periphery benefit from internal devaluations even at the zero lower bound (ZLB) of the nominal interest rate. Nevertheless, when the ZLB binds, there is a case for a sequencing of reforms that prioritizes labor policies over goods markets reforms.

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  • Javier Andrés & Óscar Arce & Jesús Fernández-Villaverde & Samuel Hurtado, 2020. "Deciphering the Macroeconomic Effects of Internal Devaluations in a Monetary Union," NBER Working Papers 27347, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27347
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy

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