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Accumulation of reserves and keeping up with the Joneses: the case of LATAM economies

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  • Cheung, Yin-Wong
  • Sengupta, Rajeswari

Abstract

In this paper we explore the ‘Mrs. Machlup's Wardrobe’ hypothesis to understand the growing trend of Latin American economies amassing large stocks of international reserves. Using annual data from 1980 to 2007, we examine the relevance of the argument that economies continue to add to their existing reserves stock in order to keep up with the Joneses. We find strong evidence of presence of the Joneses effect. The effect is robust to the inclusion of traditional determinants of reserve accumulation as well as region specific factors including commodity exports that set the Latin American economies apart from other emerging economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheung, Yin-Wong & Sengupta, Rajeswari, 2010. "Accumulation of reserves and keeping up with the Joneses: the case of LATAM economies," MPRA Paper 30426, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:30426
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Aizenman, Joshua & Cheung, Yin-Wong & Ito, Hiro, 2015. "International reserves before and after the global crisis: Is there no end to hoarding?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 102-126.
    3. Dariusz Urban, 2011. "Macroeconomic Considerations and Motives of Sovereign Wealth Funds Activity," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 5(2), June.
    4. Luis Cabezas & José De Gregorio, 2018. "Accumulation of Reserves in Emerging and Developing Countries: Mercantilism vs. Insurance," Working Papers wp467, University of Chile, Department of Economics.
    5. Dongwon Lee, 2023. "International cooperation in foreign reserve policies in the presence of competitive hoarding," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 389-412, May.
    6. Chang, Ming-Jen & Chang, Juin-Jen & Shieh, Jhy-Yuan, 2014. "Keeping up with the Joneses and exchange rate volatility in a Redux model," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 569-584.
    7. Bussière, Matthieu & Cheng, Gong & Chinn, Menzie D. & Lisack, Noëmie, 2015. "For a few dollars more: Reserves and growth in times of crises," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 127-145.
    8. Mrs. Kristin Magnusson Bernard, 2011. "International Reserve Adequacy in Central America," IMF Working Papers 2011/144, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Adler, Gustavo & Lisack, Noëmie & Mano, Rui C., 2019. "Unveiling the effects of foreign exchange intervention: A panel approach," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Dariusz Urban, 2016. "Gromadzenie aktywów rezerwowych a motyw naśladownictwa - doświadczenia wybranych krajów z państwowymi funduszami majątkowymi," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 3, pages 127-143.
    11. Luis Cabezas & José Gregorio, 2019. "Accumulation of reserves in emerging and developing countries: mercantilism versus insurance," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(4), pages 819-857, November.
    12. Ibrahim D. Raheem & Kazeem Isah, 2019. "The Jolly Ride of International Reserves and Commodity Prices: Evidence from Predictive Models," Working Papers 063, Centre for Econometric and Allied Research, University of Ibadan.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Demand for international reserves; ‘Mrs. Machlup's Wardrobe’ hypothesis; Speculative attack; Competitive hoarding Financial crisis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F4 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance
    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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