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The Optimal Level of Foreign Reserves in Financially Dollarized Economies: The Case of Uruguay

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  • Fernando M. Gonçalves

Abstract

This paper extends the framework derived by Jeanne and Rancière (2006) by explicitly incorporating the dollarization of bank deposits into the analysis of the optimal level of foreign reserves for prudential purposes. In the extended model, a sudden stop in capital flows occurs in tandem with a run on dollar deposits. Reserves can smooth consumption in a crisis but are costly to carry. The resulting expression for the optimal level of reserves is calibrated for Uruguay, a country with high dollarization of bank deposits. The baseline calibration indicates that the gap between actual and optimal reserves has declined sharply since the 2002 crisis due to a substantial reduction in vulnerabilities. While the results suggest that reserves are now near optimal levels, further accumulation may be desirable going forward, partly because banks' currently high liquidity levels are likely to decline as the credit recovery matures.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando M. Gonçalves, 2007. "The Optimal Level of Foreign Reserves in Financially Dollarized Economies: The Case of Uruguay," IMF Working Papers 2007/265, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2007/265
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eduardo Levy Yeyati, 2008. "Liquidity Insurance in a Financially Dollarized Economy," NBER Chapters, in: Financial Markets Volatility and Performance in Emerging Markets, pages 185-218, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. 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.
    3. Hutchison, Michael M & Noy, Ilan, 2005. "How Bad Are Twins? Output Costs of Currency and Banking Crises," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 37(4), pages 725-752, August.
    4. Pablo García & Claudio Soto, 2006. "Large Hoardings of International Reserves: Are They Worth It?," Central Banking, Analysis, and Economic Policies Book Series, in: Ricardo Caballero & César Calderón & Luis Felipe Céspedes & Norman Loayza (Series Editor) & Klaus Sc (ed.),External Vulnerability and Preventive Policies, edition 1, volume 10, chapter 6, pages 171-206, Central Bank of Chile.
    5. Mr. Paolo Mauro & Mr. Torbjorn I. Becker & Mr. Jonathan David Ostry & Mr. Romain Ranciere & Mr. Olivier D Jeanne, 2007. "Country Insurance: The Role of Domestic Policies," IMF Occasional Papers 2007/004, International Monetary Fund.
    6. de la Plaza, Luis & Sirtaine, Sophie, 2005. "An analysis of the 2002 Uruguayan banking crisis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3780, The World Bank.
    7. Mr. Christian B. Mulder & Mr. Matthieu Bussière, 1999. "External Vulnerability in Emerging Market Economies: How High Liquidity Can Offset Weak Fundamentals and the Effects of Contagion," IMF Working Papers 1999/088, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Olivier Jeanne, 2007. "International Reserves in Emerging Market Countries: Too Much of a Good Thing?," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 38(1), pages 1-80.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Wendell A. Samuel & Emilio Pineda & Mr. Mario Dehesa, 2009. "Optimal Reserves in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union," IMF Working Papers 2009/077, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Marta Ruiz-Arranz & Milan Zavadjil, 2008. "Are Emerging Asia’s Reserves Really Too High?," IMF Working Papers 2008/192, International Monetary Fund.
    3. Ana Maria Ceh & Ivo Krznar, 2008. "Optimal Foreign Reserves: The Case of Croatia," Financial Theory and Practice, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 32(4), pages 421-460.

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