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Imported Inflation in South Africa: An Empirical Study

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  • Kevin Nell

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the inflationary impact of exchange rate depreciation in South Africa over the period 1984-1998 when the monetary authorities adopted a more market-oriented exchange rate system. Although the empirical part of the paper extensively focuses on this period, the analysis also concentrates on the period 1973-1983 to determine whether the underlying causes of inflation have changed following significant structural, political and institutional changes. From a macroeconomic perspective, the empirical results show that the long-run causes of inflation in South Africa have changed from a demand-pull inflation over the period 1973-1983, to a cost-push cause (import prices and wage rate changes) of inflation since 1987 when a market determined exchange rate finally stabilised.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Nell, 2000. "Imported Inflation in South Africa: An Empirical Study," Studies in Economics 0005, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    • Handle: RePEc:ukc:ukcedp:0005
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    Cited by:

    1. Tapiwa D. Karoro & Meshach J. Aziakpono & Nicolette Cattaneo, 2009. "Exchange Rate Pass‐Through To Import Prices In South Africa: Is There Asymmetry?1," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 77(3), pages 380-398, September.
    2. Lawrence Edwards & Robert Lawrence, 2008. "South African trade policy matters Trade performance and trade policy," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 16(4), pages 585-608, October.
    3. Rebeca Jiménez‐Rodríguez & Amalia Morales‐Zumaquero, 2020. "BRICS: How important is the exchange rate pass‐through?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 781-793, March.
    4. Lawrence Edwards & Robert Lawrence, 2006. "South African Trade Policy Matters: Trade Performance & Trade Policy," Growth Lab Working Papers 14m, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    5. Tapiwa D. Karoro & Meshach J. Aziakpono & Nicolette Cattaneo, 2009. "Exchange Rate Pass‐Through To Import Prices In South Africa: Is There Asymmetry?1," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 77(3), pages 380-398, September.
    6. Edwards, Lawrence J & Garlick, Robert, 2008. "Trade flows and the exchange rate in South Africa," MPRA Paper 36666, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Oluwasheyi Oladipo, 2017. "Inflation targeting and exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices: evidence from South Africa," Journal of Economic and Financial Studies (JEFS), LAR Center Press, vol. 5(5), pages 1-11, October.
    8. Oluwasheyi Oladipo, 2017. "The Effects of Inflation Targeting on Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Domestic Prices: A Case Study of South Africa," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(6), pages 1-4.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Imported inflation; Import Pass-through; Exchange rate; Phillips curve;
    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
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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