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Interest rate convergence in the EMS prior to European Monetary Union

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  • M. FRÖMMEL
  • R. KRUSE

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the convergence of interest rates in the European Monetary System (EMS) in a framework of changing persistence. This allows us to estimate the exact date of full convergence from the data. A change in persistence means that a time series switches from stationarity to non-stationarity, or vice versa. It is often argued that due to the specific historical situation in the EMS the interest rate differential was non-stationary before the full convergence of interest rates was achieved and stationary afterwards. Our empirical results suggest that the convergence date has been very different for Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Italy and are in line with the conclusions one would draw from a narrative approach. We compare three different estimators for the convergence date and find that the results are quite robust. Our results therefore stress the importance of credibility for monetary policy.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Frömmel & R. Kruse, 2009. "Interest rate convergence in the EMS prior to European Monetary Union," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 09/610, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
  • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:09/610
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    2. Wegener, Christoph & Kruse, Robinson & Basse, Tobias, 2019. "The walking debt crisis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 382-402.
    3. Léonore Raguideau-Hannotin, 2021. "Monetary autonomy of CESEE countries and nominal convergence in EMU: a cointegration analysis with structural breaks," EconomiX Working Papers 2021-20, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    4. Ingo G. Bordon & Kai Daniel Schmid & Michael Schmidt, 2014. "Hypnosis Before Wake-up Call? The Revival of Sovereign Credit Risk Perception in the EMU-Crisis," IMK Working Paper 138-2014, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
    5. James McNeil, 2020. "Modeling interest rate setting at the European Central Bank with bargaining models and counterfactuals," Working Papers daleconwp2020-03, Dalhousie University, Department of Economics.
    6. Minoas Koukouritakis, 2017. "Eurozone debt crisis and bond yields convergence: evidence from the new EU countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 50(3), pages 239-258, August.
    7. Antonakakis, Nikolaos & Christou, Christina & Cunado, Juncal & Gupta, Rangan, 2017. "Convergence patterns in sovereign bond yield spreads: Evidence from the Euro Area," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 129-139.
    8. Carnazza, Giovanni & Liberati, Paolo, 2021. "The asymmetric impact of the pandemic crisis on interest rates on public debt in the Eurozone," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 521-542.
    9. Schmid, Kai Daniel & Schmidt, Michael, 2012. "EMU, the changing role of public debt and the revival of sovereign credit risk perception," University of Tübingen Working Papers in Business and Economics 48, University of Tuebingen, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, School of Business and Economics.
    10. Kai Daniel Schmid & Michael Schmidt, 2012. "EMU and the Renaissance of Sovereign Credit Risk Perception," IAW Discussion Papers 87, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).
    11. Christoph Wegener & Tobias Basse & Philipp Sibbertsen & Duc Khuong Nguyen, 2019. "Liquidity risk and the covered bond market in times of crisis: empirical evidence from Germany," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 282(1), pages 407-426, November.
    12. Frömmel, Michael & Kruse, Robinson, 2015. "Interest rate convergence in the EMS prior to European Monetary Union," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 990-1004.
    13. Robinson Kruse & Christoph Wegener, 2019. "Explosive behaviour and long memory with an application to European bond yield spreads," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 66(1), pages 139-153, February.
    14. Sibbertsen, Philipp & Wegener, Christoph & Basse, Tobias, 2014. "Testing for a break in the persistence in yield spreads of EMU government bonds," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 109-118.
    15. Kerkemeier, Marco & Kruse-Becher, Robinson, 2022. "Join the club! Dynamics of global ESG indices convergence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interest rates; convergence; changing persistence; EMS; EMU;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration

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