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A Fiscal Price Tag for International Reserves

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  • Mr. David Hauner

Abstract

This paper examines the (quasi-)fiscal impact of the (opportunity) cost of international reserves. It proposes a conceptual framework, with particular emphasis on two hitherto somewhat neglected aspects: a more appropriate measure of gross opportunity cost, and potential savings from lower external debt spreads that countries "buy" by holding reserves. The framework is then applied to 100 countries over 1990-2004. The results suggest that a turning point has been reached in recent years: while most countries made money on their reserves during 1990-2001, most have been losing money during 2002-04.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. David Hauner, 2005. "A Fiscal Price Tag for International Reserves," IMF Working Papers 2005/081, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2005/081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Aizenman, Joshua, 2007. "International reserves management and the current account," Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt22q271t2, Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz.
    2. Dani Rodrik, 2006. "The social cost of foreign exchange reserves," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 253-266.
    3. Jürgen von Hagen & Iulia Siedschlag, 2010. "Managing Capital Flows: Experiences from Central and Eastern Europe," Chapters, in: Masahiro Kawai & Mario B. Lamberte (ed.), Managing Capital Flows, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Mr. David Hauner & Mr. Manmohan S. Kumar, 2005. "Financial Globalization and Fiscal Perfomance in Emerging Markets," IMF Working Papers 2005/212, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Yan, Isabel K. & Kumhof, Michael, 2011. "Too much of a good thing? on the effects of limiting foreign reserve accumulation," MPRA Paper 35231, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Joshua Aizenman, 2008. "International Reserve Management and the Current Account," Central Banking, Analysis, and Economic Policies Book Series, in: Kevin Cowan & Sebastián Edwards & Rodrigo O. Valdés & Norman Loayza (Series Editor) & Klaus Schmidt- (ed.),Current Account and External Financing, edition 1, volume 12, chapter 11, pages 435-474, Central Bank of Chile.
    7. Kumhof, Michael & Yan, Isabel, 2016. "Balance-of-payments anti-crises," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 186-202.
    8. Marta Ruiz-Arranz & Milan Zavadjil, 2008. "Are Emerging Asia’s Reserves Really Too High?," IMF Working Papers 2008/192, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Olivier Jeanne & Romain Rancière, 2011. "The Optimal Level of International Reserves For Emerging Market Countries: A New Formula and Some Applications," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(555), pages 905-930, September.
    10. Mr. Manmohan S. Kumar & Mr. David Hauner, 2006. "Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates: How Sustainable Is The “New Economy”?," IMF Working Papers 2006/112, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Cesar Rodrigues van der Laan & André Moreira Cunha, 2008. "Investigating the rationale for exchange market interventions and the building of international reserves in emerging countries: the case of Brazil after stabilization 1995-2008," Anais do XXXVI Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 36th Brazilian Economics Meeting] 200807171450510, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    12. Mr. Romain Ranciere & Mr. Olivier D Jeanne, 2006. "The Optimal Level of International Reserves for Emerging Market Countries: Formulas and Applications," IMF Working Papers 2006/229, International Monetary Fund.
    13. Enrique Alberola & José María Serena, 2007. "Global financial integration, monetary policy and reserve accumulation. Assessing the limits in emerging economies," Working Papers 0706, Banco de España.
    14. Ms. Daria V Zakharova, 2008. "One-Size-Fits-One: Tailor-Made Fiscal Responses to Capital Flows," IMF Working Papers 2008/269, International Monetary Fund.
    15. Daniela Magalhães Prates & André Moreira Cunha & Marcos T. C. Lélis, 2008. "A gestão do regime de câmbio flutuante no Brasil," Anais do XXXVI Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 36th Brazilian Economics Meeting] 200807211144430, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    16. Luis F. Brunstein, 2008. "Policies to reduce instability," Revista de Economía del Caribe 7100, Universidad del Norte.
    17. Edwin M. Truman, 2005. "Postponing Global Adjustment: An Analysis of the Pending Adjustment of Global Imbalances," Working Paper Series WP05-6, Peterson Institute for International Economics.
    18. Cunha, André Moreira & Lélis, Marcos Tadeo Caputi & Prates, Daniela Magalhães, 2009. "Exchange-rate management in Brazil," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.
    19. International Monetary Fund, 2007. "Implications of Oil Inflows for Savings and Reserve Management in the Cemac," IMF Working Papers 2007/243, International Monetary Fund.
    20. International Monetary Fund, 2007. "Vulnerabilities in Emerging Southeastern Europe—How Much Cause for Concern?," IMF Working Papers 2007/236, International Monetary Fund.
    21. Jaewoo Lee, 2009. "Option Pricing Approach to International Reserves," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(4), pages 844-860, September.

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