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The Prudential Use of Capital Controls and Foreign Currency Reserves

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Bianchi
  • Guido Lorenzoni

Abstract

We provide a simple framework to study the prudential use of capital controls and currency reserves that have been explored in the recent literature. We cover the role of both pecuniary externalities and aggregate demand externalities. The model features a central policy dilemma for emerging economies facing large capital outflows: the choice between increasing the policy rate to stabilize the exchange rate and decreasing the policy rate to stabilize employment. Ex ante capital controls and reserve accumulation can help mitigate this dilemma. We use our framework to survey the recent literature and provide an overview of recent empirical findings on the use of these policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Bianchi & Guido Lorenzoni, 2021. "The Prudential Use of Capital Controls and Foreign Currency Reserves," NBER Working Papers 29476, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29476
    Note: IFM ME
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    Cited by:

    1. Javier Bianchi & César Sosa-Padilla, 2025. "International Sanctions and Dollar Dominance," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(672), pages 2567-2577.
    2. Javier Bianchi, 2022. "The Research Agenda: Javier Bianchi on Financial Crises and Prudential Policies," EconomicDynamics Newsletter, Review of Economic Dynamics, vol. 23(1), April.
    3. Christopher Clayton & Amanda Dos Santos & Matteo Maggiori & Jesse Schreger, 2025. "Internationalizing Like China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 115(3), pages 864-902, March.
    4. Matteo Maggiori, 2021. "FX policy when financial markets are imperfect," BIS Working Papers 942, Bank for International Settlements.
    5. Lloyd, S. P. & Marin, E. A., 2023. "Capital Controls and Free-Trade Agreements," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2318, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    6. Claeys, Grégory & Papioti, Chara & Tryphonides, Andreas, 2023. "Liquidity risk, market power and the informational effects of policy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    7. Santiago Camara & Maximo Sangiacomo, 2022. "Borrowing Constraints in Emerging Markets," Papers 2211.10864, arXiv.org.
    8. Cavallino, Paolo & Sandri, Damiano, 2023. "The open-economy ELB: Contractionary monetary easing and the trilemma," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    9. Thibault Laurentjoye, 2022. "Foreign exchange reserves, imperfect substitutability of financial assets and the monetary policy quadrilemma," Working Papers PKWP2222, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).
    10. Ferrero, Andrea & Habib, Maurizio Michael & Stracca, Livio & Venditti, Fabrizio, 2022. "Leaning against the global financial cycle," Working Paper Series 2763, European Central Bank.
    11. Hengxu Song & Pengfei Wang, 2023. "Can Monetary Policy Undo Asset‐freezing Sanctions?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(6), pages 33-55, November.
    12. Pflueger, Carolin, 2025. "Back to the 1980s or not? The drivers of inflation and real risks in Treasury bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    13. Pierre Olivier Gourinchas, 2023. "International Macroeconomics: From the Great Financial Crisis to COVID-19, and Beyond," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(1), pages 1-34, March.
    14. Choi, Woo Jin & Taylor, Alan M., 2022. "Precaution versus mercantilism: Reserve accumulation, capital controls, and the real exchange rate," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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