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Exchange rate disconnect and financial constraints —evidence from Chinese firms

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  • Xu, Yuan
  • Guo, Yuwei

Abstract

One puzzling observation in international economics is the lack of response of exports to exchange rate fluctuations. Employing the most comprehensive export data from China for the 2000–2007 period, we provide sector- and firm-level evidence that the response of exports to exchange rate movements depends crucially on the level of financial constraints. For sectors with large financial constraints, the response is small, whereas, for less financially constrained sectors, the response can be much larger, with the estimated elasticity decreasing with the sector's degree of financial constraints. At the firm-level, financial constraints affect the firm's response to exchange rate shocks at both the intensive and the extensive margins. At the intensive margin, financial constraints dampen the effect of exchange rate on exports by restricting the firm's export value to the existing destination market; at the extensive margin, financial constraints restrict the number of firms participating in exporting, the number of firm-product pairs being exported, and the probability of entering a new destination market.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Yuan & Guo, Yuwei, 2021. "Exchange rate disconnect and financial constraints —evidence from Chinese firms," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 1008-1019.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:49:y:2021:i:4:p:1008-1019
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2021.04.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Ting & Luo, Wenjie & Xiang, Xunyong, 2022. "Financial constraints, exchange rate changes and export price: Evidence from Chinese exporters," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    2. Chen, Ming & Chen, Chen, 2023. "Financial constraints alleviation: Why does state-owned share reduction in China promote firm performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    3. Hu, Chenghao, 2024. "Finance dependence and exchange rate pass-through: Empirical evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exchange rate elasticity; Financial constraints; Firm exports;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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