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The US Dollar and the Trade Deficit: What Accounts for the Late 1990s?

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  • Benjamin Hunt
  • Alessandro Rebucci

Abstract

Based on a version of the IMF's global economy model set up to analyse macroeconomic interdependence between the United States and the rest of the world, this paper asks to what extent accelerating productivity growth in the United States may have contributed to the US real exchange rate appreciation and the trade balance deterioration witnessed in the second half of the 1990s. The paper concludes that productivity is only part of this story. A portfolio preference shift in favour of US assets, possibly triggered by faster productivity growth, and some uncertainty and learning about the persistence of both shocks are needed to match the data more satisfactorily.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Hunt & Alessandro Rebucci, 2005. "The US Dollar and the Trade Deficit: What Accounts for the Late 1990s?," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(3), pages 399-434, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intfin:v:8:y:2005:i:3:p:399-434
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2362.2005.00165.x
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