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When Is Foreign Exchange Intervention Effective? Evidence from 33 Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Marcel Fratzscher
  • Oliver Goede
  • Lukas Menkhoff
  • Lucio Sarno
  • Tobias Stöhr

Abstract

This study examines foreign exchange intervention based on novel daily data covering 33 countries from 1995 to 2011. We find that intervention is widely used and an effective policy tool, with a success rate in excess of 80 percent under some criteria. The policy works well in terms of smoothing the path of exchange rates, and in stabilizing the exchange rate in countries with narrow band regimes. Moving the level of the exchange rate in flexible regimes requires that some conditions are met, including the use of large volumes and that intervention is made public and supported via communication.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcel Fratzscher & Oliver Goede & Lukas Menkhoff & Lucio Sarno & Tobias Stöhr, 2015. "When Is Foreign Exchange Intervention Effective? Evidence from 33 Countries," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1518, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1518
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign exchange intervention; exchange rate regimes; effectiveness measures; communication; capital controls;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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