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Assessing Competitiveness and Real Exchange Rate Misalignment in Low-Income Countries

Author

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  • Mr. Mark W Lewis
  • Ms. Aurelie Martin
  • Gabriel Di Bella

Abstract

Assessing a country's competitiveness routinely starts with an analysis of the real exchange rate. However, in low-income countries, empirical analysis of the real exchange rate is often subject to important limitations that seriously weaken the results. This paper summarizes the methodologies used to assess real exchange rate misalignments and discusses the range of obstacles common to low-income countries. Recognizing the importance of using a wide range of indicators for assessing competitiveness in low-income countries, the paper discusses alternative competitive measures and then proposes a template of indicators to allow for a systematic assessment of competitiveness in low-income countries. The template is then used to rank countries according to their competitiveness performance in 2006.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Mark W Lewis & Ms. Aurelie Martin & Gabriel Di Bella, 2007. "Assessing Competitiveness and Real Exchange Rate Misalignment in Low-Income Countries," IMF Working Papers 2007/201, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2007/201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lone Christiansen & Alessandro Prati & Luca Antonio Ricci & Thierry Tressel, 2010. "External Balance in Low-Income Countries," NBER Chapters, in: NBER International Seminar on Macroeconomics 2009, pages 265-322, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Erdoğan, Eren & Aras, Osman Nuri & Öztürk, Mustafa, 2012. "Does Overvalued Turkish Lira Affect Turkey's Foreign Trade Competitiveness?," MPRA Paper 81857, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Blaise Gnimassoun, 2012. "Taux de change et mésalignements du franc CFA avant et après l’introduction de l’euro," Working Papers hal-04141139, HAL.
    4. Blaise Gnimassoun, 2012. "Taux de change et mésalignements du franc CFA avant et après l’introduction de l’euro," EconomiX Working Papers 2012-3, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    5. Fakhri J. Hasanov & Muhammad Javid & Frederick L. Joutz, 2022. "Saudi Non-Oil Exports before and after COVID-19: Historical Impacts of Determinants and Scenario Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-38, February.
    6. Ambaw, Dessie & Pundit, Madhavi & Ramayandi, Arief & Sim, Nicholas, 2022. "Real Exchange Rate Misalignment and Business Cycle Fluctuations in Asia and the Pacific," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 651, Asian Development Bank.
    7. International Monetary Fund, 2013. "Sudan: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2013/320, International Monetary Fund.
    8. International Monetary Fund, 2009. "Republic of Congo: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2009/072, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Simeon Coleman & Juan Carlos Cuestas, 2024. "On the evolution of competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe: Is it broken?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2911-2926, July.
    10. Mahvash S Qureshi, 2008. "Africa’s Oil Abundance and External Competitiveness: Do Institutions Matter?," IMF Working Papers 2008/172, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Jan Gottschalk & Carl Miller & Lanieta Rauqeuqe & Isoa Wainiqolo & Yongzheng Yang, 2016. "The Real Exchange Rate: Assessment and Trade Impact in the Context of Fiji and Samoa," IMF Working Papers 2016/168, International Monetary Fund.
    12. Okot, Anjelo & Kaltenbrunner, Annina & Perez Ruiz, Daniel, 2022. "Determinants of the exchange rate, its volatility and currency crash risk in Africa's low and lower middle-income countries," EIB Working Papers 2022/12, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    13. Mr. Manuk Ghazanchyan & Li Zhao & Steve Brito & Vivian Parlak, 2019. "New Insights into ECCU's Tourism Sector Competitiveness," IMF Working Papers 2019/154, International Monetary Fund.
    14. International Monetary Fund, 2009. "Republic of Equatorial Guinea: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2009/099, International Monetary Fund.
    15. International Monetary Fund, 2008. "Burundi: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2008/292, International Monetary Fund.
    16. International Monetary Fund, 2009. "Union of the Comoros: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix," IMF Staff Country Reports 2009/046, International Monetary Fund.
    17. Emilio Pineda & Mr. Paul Cashin & Ms. Yan M Sun, 2009. "Assessing Exchange Rate Competitiveness in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union," IMF Working Papers 2009/078, International Monetary Fund.
    18. Peter Bal z & Luk Harv nek, 2016. "Competitiveness of the Chinese Economy and its Link to the Global Energy Prices Development," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 305-317.
    19. Mr. Klaus-Stefan Enders, 2009. "Exchange Rate Assessment for Oil Exporters," IMF Working Papers 2009/081, International Monetary Fund.
    20. International Monetary Fund, 2010. "Bangladesh: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2010/056, International Monetary Fund.
    21. International Monetary Fund, 2008. "Morocco: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2008/331, International Monetary Fund.

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