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An Absorption Approach to Modeling the US Current Account

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  • Juann H. Hung
  • Edward N. Gamber

Abstract

This paper derives and estimates a current account model based on the absorption approach (which views the current account balance as the difference between domestic saving and investment). This approach provides a framework which allows drivers of cross‐border financial flows and other determinants of saving and investment to be included in a current account model, an advantage not offered by the elasticity approach (which views the current account balance as the sum of net exports, net investment income, and net unilateral transfer). We estimate and compare vector error‐correction models of the absorption and elasticity approaches, with the absorption model nesting the elasticity model. We find that (1) the restrictions imposed by the elasticity model are rejected; and (2) the mean‐squared prediction errors of the absorption model are significantly smaller than those of the elasticity model.

Suggested Citation

  • Juann H. Hung & Edward N. Gamber, 2010. "An Absorption Approach to Modeling the US Current Account," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(2), pages 334-350, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:18:y:2010:i:2:p:334-350
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9396.2010.00867.x
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    2. Joschka Gerigk & Miriam Rinawi & Adrien Wicht, 2018. "Demographics and the current account," Aussenwirtschaft, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science, Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economics Research, vol. 69(01), pages 45-76, December.
    3. Gunther Schnabl & Stephan Freitag, 2012. "Reverse Causality in Global and Intra-European Imbalances," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(4), pages 674-690, September.
    4. Kamel Jlassi, 2015. "Modelling and Forecasting of Tunisian Current Account: Aggregate versus Disaggregate Approach," IHEID Working Papers 13-2015, Economics Section, The Graduate Institute of International Studies.
    5. Miriam Koomen & Laurence Wicht, 2023. "Demographics and Current Account Imbalances: Accounting for the Full Age Distribution," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(3), pages 719-758, September.
    6. Gunther Schnabl & Stephan Freitag, 2012. "Determinants of Global and Intra-European Imbalances," Global Financial Markets Working Paper Series 25-2011, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    7. Bošnjak Mile, 2019. "Determinants of Current Account in Cases of Serbia and Romania: Time-Varying Parameters Approach," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 21-33, June.

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