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The Real Exchange Rate as an Instrument of Development Policy

Author

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  • Arslan Razmi

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Martin Rapetti

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Peter Skott

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

Growth is endogenous in small open economies with substantial hidden or open unemployment, even under constant returns to scale. Growth promoting policies, however, have implications for the balance of trade, and two instruments are needed in order to achieve targets for both the growth rate and the balance of trade. The real exchange rate can serve as one of those instruments. Distributional conflict imposes constraints on real exchange rate policies, but in LDCs the main exchange-rate related distributional conflict may be over the sectoral distribution of profits, rather than the real wage. This paper develops a model along these lines and presents empirical support for the hypothesis that real exchange rate undervaluations are a useful instrument for the pursuit of accumulation and growth in low income countries. JEL Categories: F43, O11, O41

Suggested Citation

  • Arslan Razmi & Martin Rapetti & Peter Skott, 2009. "The Real Exchange Rate as an Instrument of Development Policy," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2009-07, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ums:papers:2009-07
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabrício J. Missio & Frederico G. Jayme Jr. & Gustavo Britto & José Luis Oreiro, 2015. "Real Exchange Rate and Economic Growth: New Empirical Evidence," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 66(4), pages 686-714, November.
    2. Arslan Ramzi, 2010. "The exchange rate, diversification, and distribution in a modified Ricardian model with a continuum of goods," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2010-06, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    3. Raquel A Ramos, 2017. "The Fragility of Emerging Currencies Since the 2000s: a Minskyan Analysis," CEPN Working Papers hal-01619118, HAL.
    4. Cimoli, Mario & Fleitas, Sebastian & Porcile, Gabriel, 2011. "Real Exchange Rate and the Structure of Exports," MPRA Paper 37846, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Gouvea, Raphael Rocha & Lima, Gilberto Tadeu, 2011. "Balance-of-payments-constrained growth in a multisectoral framework: a panel data investigation," MPRA Paper 29816, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Diego Bastourre & Luis Casanova & Alejo Espora, 2011. "Tipo de Cambio Real y Crecimiento: Síntesis de la Evidencia y Agenda de Investigación," IIE, Working Papers 082, IIE, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    7. Diego Bastourre & Luis Casanova & Alejo Espora, 2011. "Tipo de Cambio Real y Crecimiento: Síntesis de la Evidencia y Agenda de Investigación," Department of Economics, Working Papers 082, Departamento de Economía, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    8. Gilberto Lima & Gabriel Porcile, 2013. "Economic growth and income distribution with heterogeneous preferences on the real exchange rate," Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(4), pages 651-674.
    9. Missio, Fabricio & Araujo, Ricardo Azevedo & Jayme, Frederico G., 2017. "Endogenous elasticities and the impact of the real exchange rate on structural economic dynamics," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 67-75.
    10. Ahmet Benlialper & Hasan Cömert, 2016. "Implicit asymmetric exchange rate peg under inflation targeting regimes: the case of Turkey," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 40(6), pages 1553-1580.
    11. Carolina Troncoso Baltar & Celio Hiratuka & Gilberto Tadeu Lima, 2014. "Investment in the Brazilian manufacturing industry and the real exchange rate: An investigation using sectoral-level panel data," Competence Centre on Money, Trade, Finance and Development 1408, Hochschule fuer Technik und Wirtschaft, Berlin.
    12. Mario Cimoli & Sebastian Fleitas & Gabriel Porcile, 2013. "Technological intensity of the export structure and the real exchange rate," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 353-372, June.
    13. Andrés Asiain, 2010. "Exchange rate, international prices and export taxes in a structuralist macroeconomic model," Economía, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (IIES). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela, vol. 35(29), pages 57-78, January-j.
    14. -, 2014. "Latin American Economic Outlook 2015: Education, skills and innovation for development," Coediciones, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 37446 edited by Ocde, July.
    15. Fassil Eshetu & Degye Goshu, 2019. "Determinants of Ethiopian Coffee Exports to its Major Trade Partners: A Dynamic Gravity Model Approach," Journal of Asian Business Strategy, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(2), pages 110-119, December.
    16. Marconi, Nelson & Reis, Cristina Fróes de Borja & Araújo, Eliane Cristina de, 2016. "Manufacturing and economic development: The actuality of Kaldor's first and second laws," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 75-89.
    17. Santos, Jeruza Haber Alves dos & Mattos, Leonardo Bornacki de & Carvalho, Luciano Dias de, 2022. "Determinants of capital accumulation in Latin America," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    18. Raquel A Ramos, 2017. "The Fragility of Emerging Currencies Since the 2000s: a Minskyan Analysis," Working Papers hal-01619118, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Real exchange rates; underemployment; capital accumulation; investment; growth.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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